Disney hires Adam Smith to get some YouTube streaming magic

Disney is looking to replicate YouTube’s success in the streaming TV sector. The Mouse House has hired 20-year Google/YouTube vet Adam Smith as its Chief Product and Technology Officer for Disney Entertainment and ESPN.

Smith most recently served as YouTube’s VP of Product Management, a role that saw him lead operations for services like YouTube Premium and YouTube Music. He’ll occupy a similar niche at Disney, where he will oversee the development of technology that will be deployed across streaming services like Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN.

Disney is looking to shore up its streaming division during a difficult period for that particular industry. As subscription service owners like Paramount announce substantial layoffs, Disney is drawing inspiration from a company that’s currently enjoying a growth spurt on TV screens.

YouTube gets more than one billion hours of watch time on TVs every day. Its base of paying subscribers has increased as well. Last February, YouTube announced that there were 100 million accounts subscribed to YouTube Premium and YouTube Music.

Disney is counting on Smith to energize its streaming lineup once the exec begins his new position next month. He will jointly report to Disney Entertainment co-chairs Dana Walden

and Alan Bergman, as well as ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro.

In a joint statement, those three execs described Smith’s position as a “critical role” at the company. “I believe Disney is uniquely positioned to thrive in the next evolution of media and has made significant progress in a very short time while keeping storytelling front and center,” Smith added. “I look forward to working closely with Alan, Dana, and Jimmy and their top-notch teams and am excited to bring my expertise in utilizing technology to build compelling consumer experiences that will drive engagement and discovery among fans, families and friends.”

Smith’s work at ESPN will also draw on his experience at YouTube. The Worldwide Leader in Sports recognized the importance of creators when it hired Omar Raja, the mastermind behind the Insta-famous channel House of Highlights. Raja regularly represents ESPN in our rankings of the 50 most-watched channels of the week.

Before joining Google in 2003, Smith held roles at Random House and Lehman Brothers.