Bob Iger's Disney Legacy: Visionary Leadership and Transformative Acquisitions

The outgoing CEO leaves behind a powerhouse entertainment company, but challenges remain for his successor Josh D'Amaro.

Published on Feb. 4, 2026

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After two decades and two stints as Walt Disney Co. CEO, Bob Iger is stepping down, leaving behind a transformed entertainment giant. Iger is credited with reviving Disney through a series of blockbuster acquisitions, including Pixar, Marvel, and Lucasfilm, which expanded the company's intellectual property and franchises. However, his second tenure as CEO was marked by challenges, including the disastrous leadership handoff to Bob Chapek and a bitter proxy fight with billionaire investors. Iger's successor, Josh D'Amaro, faces the task of ensuring Disney's movies, TV shows, and streaming services remain competitive while also maintaining the company's sports contracts and evaluating the future of the ABC network.

Why it matters

Iger's tenure as Disney CEO was defined by remarkable growth and innovation, as he transformed the company into a global entertainment powerhouse. However, the challenges he faced in his second stint, including the Chapek misstep and the Fox acquisition, highlight the complexities and high stakes involved in leading one of America's most iconic companies. As D'Amaro takes the reins, he must navigate these issues while also positioning Disney for continued success in an evolving media landscape.

The details

During Iger's first reign as CEO, he presided over a period of remarkable growth, acquiring Pixar, Marvel, and Lucasfilm to expand Disney's intellectual property and franchises. He also worked to preserve the company's legacy brands, such as ABC, ESPN, and the classic Disney animated characters. However, Iger's second stint as CEO, which began in 2022, was marked by challenges, including the disastrous leadership handoff to Bob Chapek and a bitter proxy fight with billionaire investors over the $71 billion acquisition of 21st Century Fox. Iger has defended the Fox deal, saying it gave Disney control of key assets like Hulu and FX, but some critics have questioned the value of the purchase.

  • Iger became Disney CEO in 2005.
  • Iger stepped down as CEO in February 2020, but returned in November 2022 to address the company's challenges.
  • Iger's successor, Josh D'Amaro, will take over as CEO on March 18, 2026, at the company's annual investor meeting.
  • Iger will remain as a senior advisor and board member until his retirement in December 2026.

The players

Bob Iger

The outgoing CEO of The Walt Disney Company, who is credited with transforming the company through a series of blockbuster acquisitions and steering it into the streaming era.

Josh D'Amaro

The 54-year-old incoming CEO of The Walt Disney Company, who previously served as the head of the company's parks and experiences division.

James Gorman

The chairman of The Walt Disney Company's board of directors.

Michael Eisner

The former CEO of The Walt Disney Company, who praised Iger's leadership and success.

Bob Chapek

The former CEO of The Walt Disney Company, whose leadership was criticized and led to Iger's return to the company.

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What they’re saying

“The Iger era has been defined by enormous growth, an unyielding commitment to excellence in creativity and innovation, and exemplary stewardship of this iconic institution.”

— James Gorman, Chairman, The Walt Disney Company (The Tribune)

“From ABC Sports to ABC Television Network and then at Disney, when we inherited him in the ABC/Capital Cities acquisition, Bob created success upon success. It's why he was picked as the Disney CEO, a role that has been his greatest success ... What a record!”

— Michael Eisner, Former CEO, The Walt Disney Company (The Tribune)

“When I came back three years ago, I had a tremendous amount that needed fixing. But anyone who runs a company also knows that it can't just be about fixing. It has to be preparing a company for its future.”

— Bob Iger (The Tribune)

“We've got the stories [and] we've got the fans.”

— Bob Iger (The Tribune)

“The deal we did for Fox, in many ways, was ahead of its time. We knew that we would need more volume in terms of [intellectual property], and we did that deal.”

— Bob Iger (The Tribune)

What’s next

The board of The Walt Disney Company will oversee a smooth transition of leadership from Bob Iger to Josh D'Amaro, who will take over as CEO on March 18, 2026.

The takeaway

Bob Iger's tenure as Disney CEO was defined by his visionary leadership and transformative acquisitions that turned the company into a global entertainment powerhouse. However, the challenges he faced in his second stint, including the Chapek misstep and the Fox acquisition, highlight the complexities of leading such an iconic brand. As Josh D'Amaro takes the reins, he must navigate these issues while positioning Disney for continued success in an evolving media landscape.