Disney’s entertainment industry has been flourishing with several major box office hits just this year, such as Hoppers and Toy Story 5, and they continue to be popular when they hit Disney+.
Last month, Disney mentioned a restructuring of its Consumer Products Division, and we’ve got some movement! Several major changes occurred within Disney Entertainment’s leadership team recently, with one person taking on an entirely new role!
Beginning with the former Co-President of Direct-to-Consumer and Chief Product & Technology Officer for Disney Entertainment and ESPN, Adam Smith has been appointed Disney Entertainment’s Chairman of Direct-To-Consumer (DTC). As Chairman, Smith will be responsible for the company’s Subscription Video On Demand (SVOD) business globally. This includes, but is not limited to, driving strategy, development, and continued innovation across the company’s streaming platforms, proprietary advertising technology, and emerging technologies.
He will also oversee product, engineering, advertising technology, programming strategy, viewer experience, partnerships, and data and analytics of Disney+ and Hulu. When appointing Smith, Dana Walden, President & Chief Creative Officer of The Walt Disney Company, expressed her excitement, saying, “Alan Bergman and I are pleased to recognize the tremendous impact he has had on our direct-to-consumer business since he joined Disney, and we are confident that he is the right leader to meet the critical moment we’re in and take us to the next level.”
Joe Earley, who was the former Co-President for Direct-to-Consumer and head of content strategy, has been appointed to a new role — the newly created role of President of Disney Entertainment Television Franchise and Content Strategy. This role will “lead the strategic development of Disney Entertainment Television franchises, maximizing their value and creating new opportunities to engage audiences and drive the business forward.”
Earley will oversee all content and production for international originals, production, labor relations, and creative talent development. Walden also spoke highly of Earley when she named him to the role, saying, “He is a talented executive with a rare combination of business acumen and creative instincts, and Debra OConnell and I could not be more excited to welcome him to the leadership team at Disney Entertainment Television.”
We’re excited to see what Smith and Earley accomplish in their new roles! Stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for more Disney news, updates, tips, and tricks!
Disney+ Just Got a MASSIVE Upgrade
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