Disney Appoints First CTO Karandeep Anand Amid Streaming Leadership Shake-Up
Disney hires former Character.AI CEO Karandeep Anand as its first chief technology officer while promoting Adam Smith to lead direct-to-consumer operations.
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The story so far
8 publishers have covered this in 9 articles since 17 Sept 2026. Variety published first, on 17 September at 21:00 UTC. The most recent article, from Engadget - Technology News & Expert Reviews, appeared on 18 September at 18:36 UTC.
Outlets reporting it: Variety (major outlet), The Hollywood Reporter (major outlet), CNBC (major outlet), TechCrunch (major outlet), The Verge (major outlet), Deadline, All Content from Business Insider, Engadget - Technology News & Expert Reviews.
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How it unfolded
Every source in the order it published.
- VarietyDisney Names Adam Smith Director-to-Consumer Chairman, Joe Earley Shifts to TV Franchise and Content Strategy Chief
- The Hollywood ReporterDisney Names New Streaming Boss In Major Shake Up of Direct-to-Consumer Division
- DeadlineAdam Smith To Lead Disney’s Direct-to-Consumer As Chairman, Joe Earley Becomes President Of Television Franchise & Content Strategy
- DeadlineEric Schrier Stepping Down As President Of DTC International Originals, Segues To Producing Deal With Disney Entertainment Television
- CNBCDisney names CTO for the first time as media giant expands tech push
- All Content from Business InsiderDisney has a new tech chief — read the memo from CEO Josh D'Amaro
- TechCrunchDisney’s first CTO led an AI startup it once accused of copying its characters
- The VergeDisney’s first CTO is Character.AI’s former CEO
- Engadget - Technology News & Expert ReviewsDisney hires ex-CEO of AI company it accused of copyright infringement
Sources
Every article we clustered into this story. Headlines link to the publisher.
- Disney’s first CTO is Character.AI’s former CEO The Verge ·
- Disney’s first CTO led an AI startup it once accused of copying its characters TechCrunch ·
- Disney names CTO for the first time as media giant expands tech push CNBC ·
- Disney Names Adam Smith Director-to-Consumer Chairman, Joe Earley Shifts to TV Franchise and Content Strategy Chief Variety ·
- Disney Names New Streaming Boss In Major Shake Up of Direct-to-Consumer Division The Hollywood Reporter ·
- Disney hires ex-CEO of AI company it accused of copyright infringement Engadget - Technology News & Expert Reviews
Show 3 more sources
- Disney has a new tech chief — read the memo from CEO Josh D'Amaro All Content from Business Insider
- Eric Schrier Stepping Down As President Of DTC International Originals, Segues To Producing Deal With Disney Entertainment Television Deadline
- Adam Smith To Lead Disney’s Direct-to-Consumer As Chairman, Joe Earley Becomes President Of Television Franchise & Content Strategy Deadline
In this story
- Disney
- Karandeep Anand
- Adam Smith
- Joe Earley
- Josh D'Amaro