For the last few years, the question of who would succeed Bob Iger hovered over Disney. Entertainment executive Dana Walden’s decades-long career in television, her reputation as a talent-whisperer, and her close relationship with Iger made her the obvious choice from Hollywood’s perspective: “The word about succession is that it’s all Dana all the time,” a top agent told VF in 2024. Her biggest competition was Josh D’Amaro, the silver-haired head of Disney’s parks and resorts division, who had a devoted following inside and outside the company. When he showed up at Disney theme parks, visitors often lined up to meet him. The company finally ended its executive bake-off Tuesday with the announcement of D’Amaro as its new CEO. Disney shied away from the historic choice of appointing a first woman to top the company, though a new position was created for Walden: She’s been named President and Chief Creative Officer, giving her oversight of both film and television at Disney. “Reading the tea leaves for at least the past six months or so, there …