Disney Bolsters Adtech & Product Leadership with Key Hires
In a strategic move to fortify its digital infrastructure and content delivery, Disney is bolstering its product and advertising technology leadership with two significant executive appointments. This development follows a period of targeted workforce adjustments within the company’s product and technology division earlier this year.
Adam Smith, Chief Product and Technology Officer for Disney Entertainment and ESPN, recently announced internally the addition of two Executive Vice Presidents to his leadership team. Tony Donohoe joins as Executive Vice President of Ad Platforms, tasked with spearheading the adtech team and its ongoing development. Concurrently, Erin Teague will come aboard in September as Executive Vice President of Product Management, bringing her extensive experience to the streaming giant.
Smith emphasized the critical interplay of creativity and technology that defines Disney’s distinctiveness. He stated that these new leaders would inject “technical firepower, deep expertise, and dynamic vision” into the company, crucial as Disney aims to drive innovation and enhance user-centric products across its platforms. The appointments underscore Disney’s commitment to transforming its digital offerings and pursuing an ambitious vision for its product and technology landscape.
Tony Donohoe brings nearly three decades of industry experience to his new role. His distinguished career includes leadership positions at JPMorgan Chase, serving as Chief Technology Officer for major players like Expedia and SoFi, and most recently, a tenure as Senior Vice President of Technology at Walmart. Erin Teague, a recognized expert in sports, artificial intelligence, and personalization, has held pivotal leadership roles at prominent technology companies including Google, Yahoo, and YouTube, positioning her well to guide Disney’s product evolution.
These key hires arrive as Disney navigates a period of significant strategic transformation. The company is on the cusp of launching its new ESPN streaming service, set to debut in the coming days, which will undoubtedly rely heavily on robust ad platforms and seamless product experiences. Furthermore, CEO Bob Iger recently confirmed plans to fully integrate Hulu into Disney+ by 2026, aiming to consolidate content into a more streamlined, single-app experience. This integration will necessitate sophisticated product management and advertising solutions to maximize user engagement and monetization.
The current wave of leadership appointments also provides context to earlier operational shifts within Disney’s technology teams. In June, the company undertook layoffs that affected a small fraction—under two percent—of its product and technology workforce. At the time, Disney described these actions as a “rebalancing and refocusing” of its investments in the sector, while simultaneously indicating a continued intent to hire and grow strategic areas. The arrival of Donohoe and Teague signals the next phase of this strategic build-out, emphasizing Disney’s long-term commitment to technological leadership in the highly competitive streaming landscape.