Josh D’Amaro, chairman of Disney Experiences, speaks during the grand opening ceremony of Shanghai Disney Resort’s Zootopia-themed land on December 19, 2023 in Shanghai, China.
Vcg | Visual China Group | Getty Images
Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro is sitting down with CNBC’s Julia Boorstin on Friday in a live interview from the company’s annual D23 expo.
D’Amaro stepped into the role of Disney CEO in March, succeeding Bob Iger after a closely watched succession race and following a turnaround period at the media giant.
Tune in as Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro joins CNBC TV in one of his first interviews since taking the helm. Watch in real time on CNBC+ or the CNBC Pro stream.
The longtime Disney executive had most recently served as chairman of Disney Experiences, the unit that includes the theme parks, cruise lines and consumer products, and which drives profitability for the company.
His immediate tasks since assuming the top job have been sustaining momentum in Disney’s core growth areas, namely its theme parks and streaming divisions. These areas have been a focus for investors, and in recent quarters, Disney has received a mixed reception from Wall Street.
Last week Disney reported quarterly results that once again showcased the strengths of these units. Wall Street appeared pleased with growth in Disney’s theme park segment despite mounting macroeconomic uncertainty for consumers.
D’Amaro also said the company is weighing a free, ad-supported streaming product as a way to beckon more viewers to its flagship service, Disney+.
The CEO has previously said that his focus is on investing in intellectual property. He often highlights Disney’s storytelling and creative unit, as well as the need to embrace technology to advance the company as a whole.
But D’Amaro’s first few months haven’t been drama-free.
Disney’s latest round of cost-cutting began weeks after D’Amaro took the helm, with an initial round of layoffs affecting nearly 1,000 employees. Most recently the company reportedly cut several hundred employees from its ESPN, Pixar and National Geographic divisions.
The CEO has also been faced with increasing political pressure and scrutiny, particularly around Disney’s ABC. The broadcast network has faced backlash from the Trump administration and Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr for its “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” and “The View” programs.
The FCC has also opened an early review of Disney’s broadcast station licenses following concerns around the company’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. Disney has shot back at the FCC throughout the early renewal process, calling it an “unlawful, arbitrary, and unconstitutional order.”
