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As his time leading The Walt Disney Company draws to a close, outgoing CEO Bob Iger has sent a personal thank you message to members of D23, Disney’s official fan community.
The letter, first reported by DAPS Magic, was sent to D23 members this week and marks what is likely one of Iger’s final direct communications to fans as CEO. In the message, Iger reportedly expressed his confidence in incoming CEO Josh D’Amaro, stating that the company is in “thoughtful, capable hands.”
A Three-Decade Disney Career
Iger first joined Disney’s senior management team in 1996 when the company acquired Capital Cities/ABC, where he had been serving as president and COO. He became Disney’s CEO in 2005, stepping down in 2020 before returning to the role in 2022 following Bob Chapek’s departure.
Over the years, Iger has made it a practice to send periodic messages to D23 members — from annual holiday greetings to post-event thank you notes. This farewell letter continues that tradition, but with a distinctly different tone. Rather than looking ahead to Disney’s next big thing, it reads as a goodbye.
The CEO Transition Timeline
The Walt Disney Company officially announced on February 3 that Josh D’Amaro, the current Chairman of Disney Experiences, will take over as CEO on March 18, 2026 — the date of the company’s annual shareholder meeting.
D’Amaro, a 28-year Disney veteran who oversees a division generating $36 billion in annual revenue, was selected by a unanimous board vote. In the official announcement, Iger called D’Amaro “an exceptional leader and the right person to become our next CEO,” praising his ability to “combine creativity with operational excellence.”
After the March 18 handoff, Iger will remain with the company as a senior advisor and member of the Disney Board of Directors until his full retirement on December 31, 2026. Dana Walden has been named President and Chief Creative Officer, a newly created enterprise-wide role reporting directly to D’Amaro.
What It Means for Disney Fans
For the millions of D23 members who have received Iger’s holiday letters, event messages, and now this farewell note, it signals the definitive end of an era. Iger’s nearly two decades of leadership have shaped the Disney that fans know today — from the acquisitions of Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm, and 21st Century Fox to the launch of Disney+ and massive theme park expansions.
Whether D’Amaro will continue Iger’s tradition of writing directly to D23 members remains to be seen. His background as a parks executive who has emphasized the importance of Disney’s people in his first public statement as CEO-elect suggests he may.
The next D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event is scheduled for August 2026 — and it will be D’Amaro’s first as CEO.
Source: DAPS Magic, The Walt Disney Company
