The Walt Disney Company appointed Indian-origin technology executive Karandeep Anand as its first Chief Technology Officer. Anand will take charge of the newly created position on October 2 and report directly to Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro.
The appointment gives Anand responsibility for Disney’s technology strategy at a time when artificial intelligence and digital products are playing a larger role across the entertainment industry. Disney said he will join as Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer.
Anand studied computer science at the International Institute of Information Technology Hyderabad. He later received marketing training from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, according to his LinkedIn profile.
He began his professional career as an intern at Microsoft. Anand spent more than 15 years at the company and left as a director of product management. He later worked at Meta for more than six years.
Anand then joined financial technology company Brex before becoming CEO of Character.AI. He held the Character.AI CEO role for nearly two years before moving to Disney. He also said members of Character.AI’s technical team are expected to join him at Disney. Anand shared the update on LinkedIn after the appointment was announced.
At Disney, Anand will oversee enterprise technology, infrastructure, data and AI platforms, along with product and engineering teams. The role will cover technology efforts across the company. D’Amaro said Anand brings experience across infrastructure, consumer technology and AI. He also linked the appointment to Disney’s focus on storytelling, technology supporting creativity and its One Disney approach.
“Karandeep brings a rare mix of experience across infrastructure, consumer technology and AI, and will be a vital addition to Disney’s senior leadership team as we further our three priorities: great storytelling as our North Star, technology in service of creativity, and operating as One Disney,” D’Amaro said.
Anand said he looks forward to building on Disney’s technology capabilities and helping the company connect fans with its stories and characters through new experiences.
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