Disney has appointed Google and YouTube vet Adam Smith chief product and technology officer for Disney Entertainment and ESPN .

Smith assumes the position after the departure of Aaron LaBerge in June , who moved to CTO and head of online-sports-betting company Penn Entertainment, which last year entered a major partnership with ESPN to rebrand Penn’s business from Barstool Sportsbook to ESPN Bet.

The high-profile hire is a sign that Disney is increasingly looking to streaming operations as its future. Smith begins his new role Sept. 3, reporting to Disney Entertainment co-chairmen Alan Bergman and Dana Walden and ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro.

In this leadership role, Smith will be responsible for guiding technology strategy, development, deployment, and innovation across the company’s media units, including streaming platforms; networks;
digital offerings for ABC, ABC News, Disney, ESPN, Marvel, Nat Geo and more; advertising technology; visual and production technologies; and emerging technologies, among other responsibilities.

Most recently, Smith served as vice president of product management at YouTube, where he led their Music and Premium divisions, as well as Subscriptions and Commerce since 2016. Smith spent over 20 years at Google and YouTube in executive roles across various departments. Prior to that, Smith worked at Random House/Bertelsmann.

“We couldn’t be more excited to have Adam join the Disney team in this crucial role,” Bergman, Walden and Pitaro said Thursday. “We’ve been actively enhancing our technological capabilities to better support our top-notch media, streaming and advertising operations. Adam brings a bold, customer-centric vision for the future and a proven track record of effectively leading global teams in implementing ambitious, scalable, and adaptable products and technology that will continue to elevate storytelling as the core of the Disney experience.”

Smith added: “Disney has created and cultivated an exceptional portfolio of brands bringing joy and entertainment to fans of all ages, thanks to a culture of creativity that embraces innovation. I believe Disney is uniquely positioned to thrive in the next evolution of media and has made significant progress in a short time while keeping storytelling at the forefront. I look forward to collaborating closely with Alan, Dana and Jimmy and their exceptional teams and am eager to bring my expertise in using technology to build engaging consumer experiences that will drive engagement and discovery among fans, families and friends.”