Disney Appoints Adam Smith to Lead Streaming Business
Walt Disney on Thursday appointed insider Adam Smith as chairman of its streaming business, as the company aims to enhance its focus on direct-to-consumer platforms including Disney+ and Hulu. The company has appointed Joe Earley as president of Disney Entertainment Television Franchise and Content Strategy, establishing a new position aimed at developing television franchises and optimising their value throughout the organization.
Smith, who joined Disney in 2024, will also be in charge of strategy and development for the company’s proprietary advertising technology, new technologies, and worldwide entertainment subscription video-on-demand business.
The appointment comes as Disney places greater emphasis on its direct-to-consumer business, which has become a key part of its strategy to distribute content, deepen engagement with viewers, and grow its advertising business. Earley joined Disney in 2019 in anticipation of the launch of Disney+ and assumed the role of president of Hulu in 2022.
