After having weathered much financial turbulence and a long deliberation, The Walt Disney Co. finally chose a new leader.

In a unanimous vote by the Disney board of directors in February, Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro emerged to succeed Bob Iger as chief executive, effective March 18 at the company’s annual meeting.

“Josh D’Amaro is an exceptional leader and the right person to become our next CEO,” Iger said in a statement. “His ability to combine creativity with operational excellence is exemplary, and I am thrilled for Josh and the company.”

A 28-year veteran at the Burbank-based entertainment giant, D’Amaro joined as a business planner at the Anaheim resort and worked his way up to eventually helm Disney Experiences in 2020 – formerly known as Parks, Experiences and Products – overseeing 12 theme parks and 57 resort hotels worldwide.

He previously served in finance, business strategy, marketing, creative and operational departments for Disney in the U.S. and around the world.

In his new role as chief executive, D’Amaro has his work cut out for him following Iger, who is considered one of the most successful chief executives in media and entertainment – so much so that Disney brought him back in 2022 after he’d already retired as chief executive.

“Of course, I feel the weight on my shoulders,” D’Amaro said in an interview with ABC World News Tonight on Feb. 3. “I think I should feel it.”

Iger told ABC World News Tonight that one of the many reasons D’Amaro was chosen is because he “observed him over the years that we’ve worked together as someone that views technology as an opportunity and not a threat.”

Also part of the leadership announcement, Disney tapped Dana Walden, Disney Entertainment co-chairman,​ to serve as president and chief creative officer – reporting directly to D’Amaro.

Iger described Walden as “a wonderful choice” for the newly created role, given her status in the creative community and that “creativity is at the heart of everything Disney does.” — Zhiyu Luo

New Complex Will Add 207 Units

A new affordable housing complex recently broke ground in Woodland Hills as part of the Warner Center 2035 Specific Plan, which aims to build a transit-oriented community with housing, retail, office and hospitality elements.

Known as the De Soto, the new development will have 207 units for households earning between 30% and 70% of L.A. county’s area median income. Developed by R.D. Olson Construction and Meta Housing Corp., the project will have a mix of apartment options – ranging from one to three bedrooms – throughout the 271,538-square-foot complex.

R.D. Olson is also working on a second affordable housing development within Warner Center called The Alcove, which broke ground in 2024.

“Combined with The Alcove, we’re contributing over 500 units to Warner Center’s transformation into a more inclusive, transit-connected community and addressing both immediate needs and long-term affordability goals,” said Bill Wilhelm, president of R.D. Olson, in a statement.

The firm expects to finish De Soto, which will have two levels of parking and five stories of apartments, in 2028. In addition, the complex will have a community room with workstations, a play area for children and courtyards where residents can gather.

The $62-million project is being financed through municipal finance authority multifamily housing revenue bonds from the state and federal low-income housing tax credits.

With sustainability being a priority, De Soto plans to achieve LEED certification. It will include: “high-efficiency HVAC systems for reduced energy consumption; low-flow water-saving plumbing fixtures; cool roof–rated roofing material that reflects sunlight to absorb less heat, reducing cooling costs; a high-efficiency central boiler system; and energy-efficient design that reduces the environmental footprint while lowering utility costs for residents,” according to a press release. — Kennedy Zak

Limitless Expands into China 

One of the fastest growing private companies in the U.S., Encino-based Limitless MFG is taking on a new business venture to China, branching out to the other side of the world with its first in-house international team.

The creative brand development manufacturer and sourcing partner made its name from collaborating with hip hop artists and designing fashion lines and has since expanded its operation to tech companies.

In 2025, it was ranked No. 129 on Inc. Magazine’s annual list of 5,000 fastest growing private companies in the U.S. overall, coming in at No. 6 in manufacturing, and as shared by Chief Executive Miller McCoy, it would be at the top in apparel manufacturing if the category existed.

The expansion to China means tapping into new technologies and boosting quality control, said McCoy.

“There are materials and machines and technologies and equipment that, quite frankly, we just don’t really have access to here in America,” McCoy said. “If you’re there with boots on the ground, and you get to see what the machines are set to, and you get to see how many stitches there are…it allows you to make a much nicer-quality garment.”

Ongoing shifts in tariff policies does not seem to bother the company as much, though the company since its creation in 2021 has seen a fair share of market disruptions. That starts with the Covid-19 pandemic.

Primarily selling directly to consumers through online channels, the company navigates the tariff situation – a nightmare for many retailers – with flexible pricing strategies as it owns its sales channels. The expansion to China, McCoy said, also gives the company a higher profit margin where the U.S. dollar still stretches far.

The move is expected to expand Limitless’ operation by 40%. The company currently sources less than 40% of its total output from China, and the move would “(prioritize) market proximity and operational leverage over regional dependency,” according to a Jan. 22 press release.

“Being closer to the source gives us leverage, both operationally and financially,” said Brett Schwers, chief revenue officer, in the statement. “It positions us to better advocate for our clients and support their growth with stronger margins, faster turnarounds, and greater accountability.” — Zhiyu Luo

Deal Adds New Focuses to Connect Media

Connect Media, a Glendale-based commercial real estate news and events company, purchased Louisville, Kentucky-based Networld Media Group.

Terms of the deal – which was effective Jan. 30 – were not disclosed.

Connect Media’s acquisition expands its reach beyond commercial real estate and financial services into adjacent industries. 

Networld produces digital new platforms, conferences and awards programs for specific industries including restaurants, retail, banking and technology. Its media product lines include FastCasual.com and PizzaMarketplace.com, and it also hosts industry events like the Automated Retail & Kiosk Innovation Show. 

“This acquisition represents a strategic opportunity to grow across complementary business lines that share a similar operating DNA,” said Daniel Ceniceros, founder of Connect Media who will serve as the chief executive of the combined company. “Bringing these platforms together creates a powerful opportunity to accelerate growth, share best practices, and introduce expanded creative and agency services that complement and enhance Networld’s current capabilities – ultimately delivering greater value to our audiences and partners, as both individual investors and institutions seek information to grow, while building communities.”

Tom Harper, Networld co-founder and executive chairman, will remain involved in an advisory role. Networld’s team also will be absorbed into Connect Media, bringing the combined workforce to more than 60 employees.

“After meeting Daniel and learning more about his company, it became clear that Connect Media was the right partner to shape Networld’s next chapter,” said Harper. “Our companies have strengths in different areas and I’m excited to see the future our combined teams will create.”

The deal follows Connect Media’s earlier acquisition of ApartmentBuildings.com, a multifamily listing platform, and Loantuitive, an AI-powered lending information platform. — Monée Fields-White