Josh Harder

Disney has tapped D’Amaro as its new chief executive officer, taking the reins from Bob Iger and becoming just the ninth person to run the century-old entertainment giant.

D’Amaro won a highly competitive race for the job, fending off Disney’s entertainment co-chairman, Dana Walden. Walden will remain with the company in the newly created position of president and chief creative officer.

In becoming CEO, D’Amaro also becomes the public face of Disney, a role that’s more than ceremonial. Since Walt Disney first created the company, the CEO has been a highly visible presence not only in Hollywood and on Wall Street, but in pop culture.

Previous CEOs, including Iger and Michael Eisner, were nearly as famous as the stars in Disney’s films.

Ready for his close-up?

D’Amaro has been assuming an increasingly public presence in the past several years, with media appearances and high-profile events, such as overseeing the recent christening of the Disney Destiny cruise ship.

He has also been closely involved in some of the company’s biggest projects, including the $60 billion expansion of the parks and experiences division and the recently announced forthcoming Abu Dhabi park.