Matt Ouimet on D'Amaro:
Josh D’Amaro is Disney’s new CEO.
He is a good guy and a very talented businessman.
As the years pass he will be judged by both Main Street and Wall Street.
Residents of Main Street seek to be entertained by compelling and creative content delivered through all the forms and channels Disney controls.
Residents of Wall Street want to see profits grow, driving the stock value higher.
It is reminiscent of Rumplestiltskin. Josh and his colleagues are tasked with spinning content straw into gold.
As an edited line from a Disney Cruise line show goes: “It has all happened before and it may happen again, but this time it will happen to Josh and his friends.”
There have been periods of dramatic growth for Disney before, but this time is different. The scale of the company is greater, competitors are stronger and the impact of technology is unprecedented.
I had drafted something more complicated but this says it in a lot less words:
I believe in Josh but not in the stock.
At the current scale of the company with the challenges noted, expecting significant growth to drive the stock price higher is a fairy tale.
I am certain that Josh will prove to an outstanding leader of the company. His impact may not ever receive the highest of accolades on Wall Street but I am quite certain that with his focus on creativity and quality content he will be happily welcomed on Main Street.
Why is growth the ultimate measure of success? Isn’t enough to keep a great brand, great.
With Josh in charge I am looking forward to watching more great movies, visiting the parks more and cancelling my Wall Street Journal subscription.
Disney is in good hands.