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How Dana Walden could defy critics and become Disney’s first female CEO

Walden has proven herself as a top TV executive, but some ex-Disney executives question whether her resume is suitable for the Disney CEO job.

A second former coworker said Walden's profile simply doesn't translate to becoming the Disney CEO — a job that involves close investor interaction, geopolitical deals for parks and resorts, and strategic thinking around acquisition and investment. Walden began making lasting relationships with TV showrunners and producers who have repeatedly worked with her, including MacFarlane, Murphy, "Modern Family" co-creator Steve Levitan and "This is Us" creator Dan Fogelman. Agents, producers and showrunners blamed him for Disney's forceful public rebuke of A-list star Scarlett Johansson in a Covid pandemic-related contract dispute and for bungling the company's response to "Don't Say Gay," as CNBC reported in 2023.

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