Walt Disney has restructured its streaming leadership, appointing Adam Smith as chairman of direct-to-consumer for Disney Entertainment. In this role, Smith will oversee all aspects of the company's streaming platforms, including Disney+ and Hulu, encompassing product, engineering, advertising technology, programming, viewer experience, partnerships, and data and analytics. Smith, who joined Disney in 2024 after a career at YouTube, was previously chief product and technology officer for Disney Entertainment and ESPN and was promoted to co-president of direct-to-consumer in March.
Joe Earley, who previously served as co-president of direct-to-consumer alongside Smith, is moving to a newly created position as president of Disney Entertainment Television Franchise and Content Strategy. In this role, Earley will focus on developing television franchises and maximizing their value across the company, leading strategic development for Disney Entertainment Television franchises, content, and production for international originals, labor relations, and creative talent development. Earley joined Disney in 2019 and has held various roles, including president of Hulu.
The leadership changes are part of Disney's strategy to place greater emphasis on its direct-to-consumer business, aiming to make Disney+ a central focus and simplify the oversight of its streaming operations under a single executive. Disney president and chief creative officer Dana Walden stated that Smith has done an exceptional job enhancing the user experience and is the right leader for the current moment.
