Disney Names Karandeep Anand as Senior EVP and Chief Technology Officer

The Walt Disney Company has appointed Karandeep Anand as Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, bringing an extensive background in technology, product development and business leadership to the company.

Anand announced the move on LinkedIn, adding that members of Character.AI’s technical team are expected to join him at Disney.

From Character.AI to Disney

Anand joins Disney from Character.AI, where he served as CEO from May 2025. Before becoming CEO, he was a board advisor at the company between October 2024 and April 2025.

In his new role, Anand will work on Disney’s technology capabilities as the company continues to connect its entertainment properties with technology-led experiences.

He said he looked forward to helping Disney connect fans around the world with its stories and characters in new ways.

Experience Across Product and Technology

Before Character.AI, Anand spent more than three years at Brex, serving as President and Chief Product Officer from January 2022 to March 2025.

At Brex, his responsibilities covered product development, design, brand, marketing, sales and customer success, giving him experience across both technology and commercial functions.

Leadership Roles at Facebook

Anand also held several senior leadership positions at Facebook between 2015 and 2021.

His roles included Vice President, Ads & Business Products; Vice President and Head of Workplace; and Vice President of Product for Marketplace, Commerce and Payments.

Earlier in his Facebook career, he led product teams across the company’s platform, payments, gaming and developer businesses.

Nearly 13 Years at Microsoft

Anand spent nearly 13 years at Microsoft, from 2002 to 2015, where he served as Partner/Director of Product Management for Microsoft Azure.

He initially joined Microsoft as a product management intern in 2000 while pursuing his undergraduate studies at IIIT Hyderabad.

Bringing Technology and Entertainment Together

Anand’s appointment brings together his experience across technology, product management, artificial intelligence, digital platforms and business leadership with Disney’s global entertainment portfolio.

In announcing his new role, Anand said he had admired Disney throughout his life and was honoured to join the company’s creative and technology teams.