ORLANDO, Fla. — The Walt Disney Company announced key leadership appointments, naming Adam Smith as chairman of Direct-to-Consumer for Disney Entertainment. Dana Walden, president and chief creative officer of The Walt Disney Company, announced the appointments.
Joe Earley will assume the newly created role of president of Disney Entertainment Television Franchise and Content Strategy.
In his new position, Smith will lead the company’s global streaming business, overseeing platforms including Disney+ and Hulu. He will drive strategy, platform development, and technological innovation across the direct-to-consumer business.
Earley will focus on the strategic development of television franchises. His role centers on international content production, talent development, and the management of business operations for television content.
Smith joined Disney in 2024. He most recently served as co-president of Direct-to-Consumer and chief product and technology officer for Disney Entertainment and ESPN. Before joining Disney, Smith spent more than 20 years at Google and YouTube, holding executive roles across multiple divisions.
Earley joined Disney in 2019 to manage global Disney+ marketing and operations ahead of its service launch. He was named president of Hulu in 2022, overseeing on-demand and live streaming operations. Earley most recently served as co-president of Direct-to-Consumer and head of content strategy. He was previously an executive at Fox, holding roles across content, communications, marketing, and operations.
Smith’s duties will cover product development, engineering, proprietary advertising technology, and programming strategy. He will also direct viewer experience, corporate partnerships, and data and analytics for the streaming portfolio.
In his role, Earley will oversee content and production for international originals. His responsibilities also encompass production operations, labor relations, and creative talent development.
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