Disney Bolsters Adtech & Product Leadership with New Hires
Disney Bolsters Tech Leadership Amid Streaming Conversion
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Published August 20, 2025
Disney is strategically reinforcing its product and technology divisions with key leadership appointments, signaling a commitment to innovation as the entertainment giant navigates a period of important change. This move follows a period of workforce adjustments announced in June, impacting less than 2% of the product and technology group, as the company focused on “rebalancing and refocusing” its investments.
Introducing the New leadership
Adam Smith, Chief Product and Technology Officer for Disney Entertainment and ESPN, announced the appointments internally. Tony Donohoe will lead the adtech team and development as EVP, Ad Platforms. Donohoe brings nearly three decades of experience, including leadership roles at JPMorgan Chase, as CTO for Expedia and SoFi, and most recently as SVP of Technology at Walmart. His expertise is expected to be crucial as Disney refines its advertising strategies.
Joining disney in September,erin Teague will serve as EVP,Product management. Teague’s background includes significant experience in sports, artificial intelligence (AI), and personalization, with previous leadership positions at Google, Yahoo, and YouTube. Her skills will be vital as disney seeks to deliver more tailored and engaging experiences to its audiences.
A Vision for the Future: Creativity and Technology
Smith emphasized the importance of combining creativity and technology as core tenets of Disney’s strategy. In a statement, he noted, “Part of what makes disney distinctive is the combination of creativity and technology.As Product & Technology at Disney and ESPN continue to pursue our vision, we’re driving new ideas, transforming our products.” He expressed enthusiasm for the contributions Donohoe and Teague will bring to the team, highlighting their “technical firepower, deep expertise, and dynamic vision.”
Strategic Shifts: Streaming and Integration
These leadership changes occur during a pivotal time for Disney, as the company prepares to launch its new ESPN streaming service in the coming days. Together, Disney is moving forward with plans to fully integrate Hulu into disney+ by 2026, aiming for a more streamlined, single-app experience for consumers. This integration has already prompted a restructuring of Disney’s marketing leadership to align with the new organizational structure.