17 Sep Disney’s Leadership Reshuffle Points to New Tech-Centric Direction | Analysis [The Wrap]
By Drew Taylor and Lucas Manfredi
September 17, 2026| Since taking over Walt Disney Co., CEO Josh D’Amaro has said he wants his company to embrace a more tech-forward approach. With the latest leadership shakeup, he’s showing how serious he is about the new direction.
On Friday, Disney tapped Character.AI CEO Karandeep Anand in the newly created role of chief technology officer reporting directly to D’Amaro. This comes a day after the appointment of Adam Smith, a former YouTube and Google executive, to the lynchpin role of chairman of the Direct-to-Consumer division within Disney Entertainment.
Hollywood veteran Joe Earley, meanwhile, will now serve in the newly created role of president of Disney Entertainment Television Franchise and Content Strategy, reporting to Debra OConnell, the chairman of Disney Entertainment Television who oversees the company’s portfolio of television brands.
Read more at The Wrap.
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