Josh D'Amaro's rise to the top at The Walt Disney Company can be attributed to his strategic thinking in a rapidly shifting media landscape. In stark contrast to Dana Walden, D'Amaro brings a unique set of skills that have resonated with Disney executives and employees alike.
While Walden is known for her sharp elbows, earning her the nickname "the last top Fox executive still standing at Disney," D'Amaro's ascension may be more about his ability to navigate complex industry dynamics. With his experiences in operating divisions outside of LA, particularly within Disney's Experiences division, which has recently posted record profits, it is clear that D'Amaro has proven himself to be a savvy operator.
D'Amaro's appointment as CEO has been met with widespread approval from industry insiders and executives at rival studios. Even top agents and creatives in the community have come out in support of his appointment, citing his intelligence, strategic thinking, and ability to connect with talent.
On the other hand, Walden, who was considered the frontrunner for the CEO job, has been less well-received by some corners of the industry. Her management style is seen as more hands-off compared to D'Amaro's approach, which is viewed as more collaborative and people-centric.
While Disney's board has given Walden added oversight of film studio operations, many are left wondering whether her role comes with real influence or is simply symbolic. The last time Disney attempted to consolidate film and TV operations ended in disaster, with Chapek's ineffectual management style stripping creative leaders of their spending power.
As the industry continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how D'Amaro navigates these challenges and whether his appointment will ultimately prove to be a turning point for The Walt Disney Company.
While Walden is known for her sharp elbows, earning her the nickname "the last top Fox executive still standing at Disney," D'Amaro's ascension may be more about his ability to navigate complex industry dynamics. With his experiences in operating divisions outside of LA, particularly within Disney's Experiences division, which has recently posted record profits, it is clear that D'Amaro has proven himself to be a savvy operator.
D'Amaro's appointment as CEO has been met with widespread approval from industry insiders and executives at rival studios. Even top agents and creatives in the community have come out in support of his appointment, citing his intelligence, strategic thinking, and ability to connect with talent.
On the other hand, Walden, who was considered the frontrunner for the CEO job, has been less well-received by some corners of the industry. Her management style is seen as more hands-off compared to D'Amaro's approach, which is viewed as more collaborative and people-centric.
While Disney's board has given Walden added oversight of film studio operations, many are left wondering whether her role comes with real influence or is simply symbolic. The last time Disney attempted to consolidate film and TV operations ended in disaster, with Chapek's ineffectual management style stripping creative leaders of their spending power.
As the industry continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how D'Amaro navigates these challenges and whether his appointment will ultimately prove to be a turning point for The Walt Disney Company.
... I mean, I know he's got some impressive skills under his belt, but what really impresses me is how Disney managed to make him the top dog without even bothering with a proper succession plan 
. And let's be real, Dana Walden was already in a tough spot, trying to navigate the mess left behind by Chapek and all the other CEO disasters 
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. We'll just have to wait and see if his collaborative approach really translates into some tangible results or if it's all just smoke and mirrors 
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and it's clear he's got the strategic thinking thing down, plus people seem to like him more than walden who's just kinda...there 
! He's got that whole "strategic thinking" thing down, you know? I mean, who else can make Experiences division post record profits? It's all about being adaptable & having a clear vision for the future 
. And let's be real, Dana Walden might've been a solid choice, but she just couldn't compete with D'Amaro's people skills 
. I'm excited to see how he'll tackle those challenges & bring Disney back on top 
!
. D'Amaro's appointment is all about collaboration and building relationships, not just being on top of things. It's good to see Disney taking this approach, especially after what happened with Chapek.
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he's been working under dana walden for ages and proved himself to be super strategic & people friendly 
his experience in running those divisions outside of LA is giving me all the feels 
i'm curious to see how he handles the drama that comes with it, but im lowkey hoping he brings some much-needed calm & creativity to the table 
. D'Amaro's Experiences division skills are a major win 
. Time will tell if his people-centric approach is the future of Disney 
. plus, disney's experiences division has been killing it under his leadership so fingers crossed he can bring that same magic to the rest of the company 
. Still, it's great to see top agents and creatives rallying behind D'Amaro – fingers crossed his tenure is all sunshine and rainbows 
!
. But in today's media landscape, you gotta be able to adapt and navigate complex stuff. And from what I've seen, D'Amaro seems like he's got the skills for it. His experience outside of LA is gonna come in handy when Disney's trying to expand its reach and all that jazz. Plus, when top agents and creatives are backing him, you know he's on the right track 
, you know how fox used to have that crazy power struggle with edna krabappel? it's kinda like what went down with dana walden and josh d'amaro at disney. but instead of edna being all fiery and stuff, walden seems to be getting more of a symbolic role after getting passed over for ceo, whereas d'amaro is just starting out on his own path, you know? i'm curious to see how he'll navigate the industry's changes, but at the same time, it's hard not to think about all those old cartoons and how they used to make people laugh... anyway, i guess we'll just have to wait and see how disney plays out 
. But I'm also worried about the comparison game – Dana Walden was already seen as a bit of a wild card 
. Plus, Disney's history with consolidation efforts doesn't exactly fill me with confidence 
. It'll be interesting to see how D'Amaro balances his growth strategy with the need for creative freedom and avoiding another Chapek-style fiasco 
. Can't wait to watch this play out over the next few years 
. Its time for a new era of leadership that puts the people – or in this case, Disney employees – first 
I mean, he's got the whole industry nodding in approval and top agents and creatives are totally on board with him... that's gotta count for something, right? 
And compared to Dana Walden, who just doesn't seem as... inspiring? 
As someone who loves staying ahead of the curve in the entertainment industry, I can see why he's resonating with executives and employees alike. Let's be real, Dana Walden's sharp elbows just ain't cutting it anymore... 
Give me someone who's gonna connect with talent and navigate complex industry dynamics any day! 
The Experiences division is a major key to Disney's success, and D'Amaro's got the expertise to keep that train rolling. 
Can't wait to see how he navigates the evolving media landscape and proves himself as a true leader in this ever-changing industry. Bring it on, Josh! 