Disney hired Karandeep Anand as its first CTO, giving CEO Josh D’Amaro a direct lieutenant for technology.
Anand starts Oct. 2 as senior executive vice president and CTO. The newly created companywide role reports directly to D’Amaro.
He will oversee technology, infrastructure, data, AI platforms, product, and engineering. The structure puts teams spread across Disney’s businesses under one executive. D’Amaro became CEO in March and has placed technology at the center of his plans for the company.
“Technology in service of creativity.”
Josh D’Amaro, Disney
Disney is also exploring a broader role for Disney+. The service could eventually connect streaming with shopping, parks, cruises, consumer products, and gaming. CFO Hugh Johnston described the plan as an integrated ecosystem built around Disney+.
Disney wants one technology spine
Anand arrives from Character.AI after spending 15 months in charge of the generative AI chatbot company. Several Character.AI technologists are expected to follow him to Disney.
The company also named Adam Smith chairman of direct-to-consumer for Disney Entertainment this week, putting him in charge of the streaming business.
Smith had been Disney’s highest-ranking technology executive after joining in 2024 from YouTube, which is owned by Alphabet. He previously served as a vice president of product management there.
Disney has been slower than some technology-focused rivals to introduce new streaming features. It is also still working to bring Disney+ and Hulu closer together.
The shares have fallen about 6% in 2026 and roughly 40% over the past five years. The declines reflect concern over growth as traditional television continues to weaken.
The Character.AI link brings baggage
Disney sent Character.AI a cease-and-desist letter in 2025 after accusing the startup of copyright infringement for hosting Disney characters. Character.AI complied with the request.
The startup has also faced wrongful-death lawsuits involving its chatbots. Under Anand, Character.AI barred minors from having open-ended conversations with its chatbots. The wrongful-death lawsuit was settled in January.
Anand previously worked at Brex, Facebook, now part of Meta Platforms, and Microsoft. He spent 15 years at Microsoft and helped build Azure.
His background fits the challenge facing Disney. The company wants to move faster with AI and digital products without damaging the family trust behind its brands.
The new CTO role reaches beyond internal systems. Disney wants the same technology strategy running across entertainment, parks, products, and streaming.
Anand now has to prove those businesses can operate as one company without losing what makes each of them work.
