Disney’s New Magic Makers: Josh D’Amaro and Dana Walden Take the Reins

In the kingdom of Mickey, Minnie, and endless mouse ears, a new chapter is about to begin. On Tuesday, The…
1 Min Read 0 322

In the kingdom of Mickey, Minnie, and endless mouse ears, a new chapter is about to begin. On Tuesday, The Walt Disney Company announced that Josh D’Amaro will step into the role of CEO, taking over from Bob Iger later this year. Alongside him, Dana Walden will become president and chief creative officer, steering the company’s storytelling and entertainment empire.

D’Amaro, 54, has spent more than two decades inside Disney, most recently running its theme parks, hotels, cruise ships, and consumer products. It’s a career built on understanding what makes Disney… well, Disney. “He has an instinctive appreciation of the Disney brand,” Iger said, praising D’Amaro’s ability to pair creativity with operational excellence — a balance any aspiring CEO dreams of.

Walden, meanwhile, brings a keen eye to Disney’s content universe. From entertainment media to streaming platforms, she knows how to shape stories that resonate across generations — and keep audiences coming back for more.

It’s a reminder that even in a world dominated by magic and fairy tales, leadership matters just as much as imagination. As D’Amaro and Walden prepare to take the reins, fans everywhere might wonder: what’s next for Disney’s kingdom? One thing is certain — change is coming, and it’s scripted with care.

Go Deeper in Mood Magazine

This story expands in a long-form feature explore Mood Magazine online.

Subscribers get full access. Start your 7-day free trial.

Hear It on Mood Radio

Listen to the extended audio feature with cultural context, music analysis, and discussion of the series’ lasting impact. Streaming now on the Mood Radio front page.

Follow the Voices in The Poets

The Poets is our upcoming show centering writers, spoken word artists, and storytellers shaping culture in real time. Discover new voices, submit your work, and follow the launch.

Support Independent Culture

Mood is reader- and listener-supported. Subscribe to sustain the work. Volunteer to help build what’s next. Share stories that matter. However you join, you belong here.

Jarvus Ricardo Hester

JARVUSHESTER

Jarvus Ricardo Hester Founder, Artistic Director, Editor-in-Chief, and Cultural Storyteller Jarvus Ricardo Hester is an opera singer, arts administrator, media executive, and entrepreneur dedicated to making the arts more accessible while preserving and amplifying the stories that shape communities. He is the Founder and Artistic Director of Harlem Collective Opera, Harlem Boys Choir, and the Harlem Chamber Orchestra, organizations committed to expanding access to classical music through innovative performances, educational initiatives, and community engagement. As Editor-in-Chief of Mood Magazine NYC and the founder of the Mood Media Network, Hester oversees a growing multimedia ecosystem that includes WHRL Mood Radio Harlem, The Morning Show NYC, After Hours NYC, and Mood TV. Through these platforms, he curates stories that explore culture, travel, wellness, food, literature, business, and the arts from Harlem to communities around the world. An alumnus of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Hester has performed with professional opera companies and has dedicated his career to reimagining how audiences experience classical music. His work consistently bridges the worlds of performance, journalism, tourism, education, and community development. His signature initiative, The Black Composer Project, celebrates the contributions of Black classical composers through immersive concert experiences that combine music, storytelling, and historical exploration. Whether through a live performance, a magazine feature, a radio broadcast, or a community partnership, Hester's work is guided by a simple philosophy: Stories create connections. Art builds communities. Culture preserves legacy. Harlem to the world. Be a part of the story.
Verified by MonsterInsights