Walt Disney Co. has named Karandeep Anand as the company’s first-ever chief technology officer, the second major tech appointment in two days as Chief Executive Josh D’Amaro pushes to integrate technology across the Burbank media giant. Anand, who will also serve as senior executive vice president, starts on Oct. 2 and will report to D’Amaro. He previously served as chief executive at the tech start-up Character.AI, which developed a chatbot platform.
Last year, Disney sent a cease-and-desist letter to Character.AI, alleging copyright infringement of its well-known characters, including Elsa, Moana, Peter Parker and Darth Vader. After receiving the letter, Character.AI removed the Disney characters as chatbot options. On Friday, Disney said “a number” of Character.AI’s technical team members are expected to join Disney with Anand.
In his new role, Anand will work across the company to modernize how it develops and implements technology, and will oversee data and AI platforms, enterprise technology and infrastructure. “Karandeep brings a rare mix of experience across infrastructure, consumer technology and AI,” D’Amaro said in a statement. “He is an expert builder and strategist, technical and product-minded, with sharp instincts for what fans actually want.” The appointment came a day after Disney named former YouTube executive Adam Smith chairman of direct-to-consumer for Disney Entertainment, putting him in charge of the company’s global entertainment streaming business.
Smith will focus on strategy and development of Disney’s platforms, advertising technology and emerging tech. Disney hired Smith in 2024 after more than 20 years at YouTube and Google, where he last served as vice president of product management overseeing music, subscription, commerce and premium efforts. At Disney, he most recently was co-president of direct-to-consumer and chief product and technology officer for Disney Entertainment and ESPN.
“We’ve established real momentum,” Smith said in a statement. “Our vision ahead is clear: make Disney+ the connection point for fans everywhere to engage with the full breadth and depth of the broader Disney ecosystem.” In a related shift, Joe Earley, who was president of direct-to-consumer for Disney Entertainment, will become president of Disney Entertainment Television franchise and content strategy, a newly created role.
Earley, a longtime marketing executive, previously served as president of Hulu.
