Who Is Karandeep Anand? Disney’s First-Ever CTO and Former Character.AI CEO
Karandeep Anand, the former CEO of artificial intelligence chatbot company Character.AI, has been named The Walt Disney Company’s first-ever Chief Technology Officer. His appointment puts a technology executive with experience at Microsoft, Meta, Brex and Character.AI at the center of Disney’s push to expand its technology, data and AI capabilities.
Anand will join Disney as Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer on Oct. 2, 2026, reporting directly to Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro.
Who Is Karandeep Anand?
Karandeep Anand is a technology and product executive whose career has spanned cloud computing, social media, fintech and generative AI.
Before joining Disney, Anand served as CEO of Character.AI, the generative AI chatbot platform known for allowing users to interact with AI-powered characters.
His career also includes senior leadership positions at Meta’s Facebook, a senior executive role at fintech company Brex, and a 15-year career at Microsoft, where he worked on the development of the Azure cloud platform.
Disney said Anand brings experience across infrastructure, consumer technology and AI to the newly created position.
What Is Karandeep Anand’s New Role at Disney?
Anand will oversee some of Disney’s most important technology functions as the company’s first CTO.
His responsibilities will include enterprise technology, technology infrastructure, data platforms, artificial intelligence platforms, product development, engineering and coordination across Disney’s different business segments.
Disney said Anand will work with technology teams across the company to modernize how Disney builds and delivers technology. Several of Character.AI’s technical employees are also expected to join him at Disney.
The appointment comes as Disney places greater emphasis on technology as a driver of growth and on creating a more connected relationship with its fans, with Disney+ playing a central role in that strategy.
“I’ve admired Disney my entire life for how it blends unforgettable storytelling with the latest technology to constantly push the boundaries of what entertainment can be,” Anand said. “I’m honored to join a team with such extraordinary creative talent, and I look forward to building on the company’s impressive technology capabilities to help Disney connect fans worldwide with its beloved stories and characters in new and innovative ways.”
When Will Karandeep Anand Start at Disney?
Anand’s appointment becomes effective on Oct. 2, 2026. He will report directly to Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro, who took over as the company’s chief executive earlier this year.
The position itself is new. Disney had previously had senior technology executives overseeing particular parts of the business, but Anand will become the company’s first executive to hold the formal Chief Technology Officer title.
Karandeep Anand’s Character.AI Career
Anand became CEO of Character.AI in 2025 after previously serving as an adviser to the company.
During his tenure, the company focused heavily on AI safety, product development and the future of AI-powered entertainment and fandom. Character.AI announced his move to Disney on September 18 and said Anand would be joined by members of the company’s technical team.
His departure comes at an important point for Character.AI, which has been working to expand its entertainment-focused features while facing scrutiny over the safety of AI chatbot interactions.
In November 2025, Anand told TIME that Character.AI had decided to restrict users under 18 from engaging in open-ended conversations with its AI characters. He said the decision was influenced by emerging research about the potential risks of extended chatbot interactions for children.
Where Did Karandeep Anand Study?
Karandeep Anand holds a degree in Computer Science from the International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad, commonly known as IIIT Hyderabad.
His educational background in computer science was followed by a career that moved through cloud computing, consumer technology, fintech and artificial intelligence.
Anand has also completed a marketing and strategy certification from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, according to his professional background reported by Variety.
