photo of Josh D

Josh D'Amaro

Chairman, Disney Parks, Experiences & Prod
The Walt Disney Company

As Chairman, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, Josh D’Amaro oversees the global hub where Disney stories, characters and franchises come to life.

Disney Parks, Experiences and Products consists of Disney’s iconic travel and leisure businesses, which include six theme park-resort destinations in the United States, Europe and Asia; a top-rated cruise line; a popular vacation ownership program; an award-winning guided family adventure business; and Disney’s global consumer products operations, which includes the world’s leading licensing business across toys, apparel, home goods, digital games and apps; the world’s largest children’s print publisher; and the shopDisney e-commerce platform.

In his previous role as President of Walt Disney World Resort, Josh was responsible for leading all facets of business for the resort’s four theme parks, two water parks, more than two dozen resort hotels, four golf courses, two full-service spas, an extensive multi-modal transportation system, Disney’s Wedding Pavilion, ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, and the Disney Springs entertainment-shopping-dining complex. He led a cast of more than 75,000—America’s largest single-site workforce—and oversaw the beginning of the destination’s most significant expansion in two decades, including the opening of the Disney Skyliner aerial transportation system, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, and Disney’s Riviera Resort. He also began the planning for the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World Resort in 2021, including the reimagination of the EPCOT theme park and new entertainment and experiences across the resort.

Before being named President of Walt Disney World Resort in 2019, Josh was President of the Disneyland Resort, where he opened Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and helped initiate development of the Marvel-themed Avenger’s Campus.

Josh began his Disney career in 1998 at the Disneyland Resort and held a number of leadership positions across the company. He served as Senior Vice President of Commercial Strategy for Walt Disney World Resort and also led the site’s Resorts & Transportation Operations. In addition, Josh served as Vice President of Disney’s Animal Kingdom as it underwent the largest expansion in its history. His other leadership roles included Adventures by Disney; Sales and Travel Operations at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort; Finance for the Global Licensing division of Disney Consumer Products; and Business Planning and Strategy Development for the Disneyland Resort.

Josh earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Georgetown University.

Programming descriptions are generated by participants and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of SXSW.