The board of directors of The Walt Disney Co. is getting a veteran tech executive.
Jeff Williams, the former COO of Apple, was nominated to join Disney’s board Tuesday. He will stand for election at the company’s 2026 annual meeting, with the board expanding from 10 directors to 11 directors, assuming shareholders approve him.
Williams retired from Apple earlier this year, after overseeing the tech giant’s design team, its supply chain, and launching products like the Apple Watch.
His addition to the Disney board brings another tech voice to the company, joining fellow board member Carolyn Everson, the former president of Instacart and a veteran of Meta.
Apple and Disney, of course, have a long history together. Apple founder Steve Jobs also founded Pixar, and became Disney’s largest shareholder when he sold the animation studio to the entertainment giant. He also joined Disney’s board. Disney CEO Bob Iger, meanwhile, also served on Apple’s board, only stepping aside once Apple entered the entertainment space with the launch of Apple TV+.
In fact, Iger wrote in his 2019 memoir that hd Jobs not passed away, there’s a good chance Apple and Disney would have merged in some capacity.
“I believe that if Steve were still alive, we would have combined our companies, or at least discussed the possibility very seriously,” he wrote.
That never happened, of course, but Disney and Apple have continued to work together, including Disney supporting the launch of Apple Vision Pro, among other initiatives.
“Jeff Williams is a highly accomplished executive who for decades helped steward one of the most innovative and admired companies that serves billions of consumers across the globe,” said James P. Gorman, Disney’s chairman of the board. “Jeff’s proven leadership and unique experience at the intersection of technology, global operations and product design make him a valuable nominee to our board as the company continues to focus on creative storytelling and groundbreaking innovation.”
“I have long admired Disney’s legacy of pairing imagination with innovation—leveraging new technologies in bold, creative ways to bring to life timeless stories and entertain its guests,” added Williams. “It is an honor to be nominated to the board of this storied company. I look forward to working with Disney’s talented leadership team and contributing to the company’s ongoing journey of creativity and excellence.”