Disney Taps Character.AI Exec as First CTO Amid Industry Disruption

Disney has appointed Karandeep Anand as its first chief technology officer. Anand joins from Character.AI, where he was CEO, and will oversee enterprise technology, AI platforms, and engineering across Disney's business segments.

Anand will report directly to CEO Josh D'Amaro and is expected to bring several technical staff members with him from Character.AI. He brings extensive experience in the tech industry, having held senior roles at Microsoft and Meta's Facebook before joining Character.AI as president and chief product officer at fintech company Brex.

Disney has been under pressure to revamp its technology infrastructure amidst rapid changes in the media landscape driven by AI and consolidation. The company has recently made several moves to sharpen focus on direct-to-consumer platforms such as Disney+ and Hulu, including naming Adam Smith chairman of its streaming business and creating a new television franchise role for Joe Earley.