NEWS: Walt Disney Company Names Former YouTube VP as NEW Executive

The Walt Disney Company has gone through significant changes lately.

©Disney | Walt Disney Company Headquarters

We’ve seen the return of Bob Iger as CEO, a major restructuring of how the company operates, and more. Since Iger’s return, we’ve also witnessed quite a few executives leave or join the ranks, and it looks like we’ve got another big wig update from The Walt Disney Company.

The Walt Disney Company has named a new Chief Product and Technology Officer of Disney Entertainment and ESPN. Adam Smith will now oversee Disney’s global Product and Technology group for the entertainment and sports media aspects of the business.

©Disney

Smith will now be “responsible for driving technology strategy, development, deployment and continued innovation across the company’s streaming platforms and networks.” He will also be responsible for a “portfolio of consumer digital touchpoints, proprietary advertising technology, emerging technologies and more.”

The Walt Disney Company headquarters in California

Disney Entertainment Co-Chairmen Alan Bergman and Dana Walden and ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro announced the news on August 15th. The three chairmen shared a joint statement that read”

“We could not be more thrilled to have Adam join the Disney team in this pivotal role. We’ve been aggressive in advancing our technological capabilities to better support our world-class media, streaming and advertising businesses, and Adam brings a bold, consumer-focused vision for the future and a proven ability to effectively lead global teams in implementing ambitious, scalable and flexible products and technology that will continue to elevate storytelling as the center of the Disney experience.”

©ESPN

Speaking on his new position, Smith said, “Disney has built and nurtured an unparalleled portfolio of brands bringing joy and delight to fans of all ages, thanks to a culture of creativity that embraces innovation. I believe Disney is uniquely positioned to thrive in the next evolution of media and has made significant progress in a very short time while keeping storytelling front and center. I look forward to working closely with Alan, Dana and Jimmy and their top-notch teams and am excited to bring my expertise in utilizing technology to build compelling consumer experiences that will drive engagement and discovery among fans, families and friends.”

©Disney

Smith most recently served as Vice President of Product Management at YouTube, where he led Music and Premium as well as Subscriptions and Commerce since 2016. He spent over 20 years at Google and YouTube, holding multiple executive roles across numerous divisions.

We’re excited to see what he does at the Walt Disney Company!

In the meantime, we’ll be keeping up with the latest news and updates from around The Walt Disney Company, so make sure you stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for everything you need to know!

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