The Walt Disney Company has announced the nomination of Jeff Williams to its Board of Directors, as reported by Business Wire. Williams, who served as a key executive at Apple for nearly three decades, is set to be one of the candidates to serve Disney as the new independent director. This development marks a high-profile transition for the former Apple Chief Operating Officer following his retirement this year.
The election will take place at Disney’s 2026 annual meeting of shareholders. If elected, Williams will join a board that is expanding to 11 members, bringing his extensive experience in global operations and product design to the media giant. Williams leaves behind a monumental legacy at Apple, where he was instrumental in some of the company’s most successful product launches. Rising to the role of COO in 2015, he oversaw the company’s vast supply chain and service functions, as well as its world-class design team. Notably, Williams is often credited as the architect behind the Apple Watch and the driving force of Apple’s health and fitness strategy.
Disney leadership has expressed strong enthusiasm for Williams’ potential contribution to the company. James P. Gorman, Chairman of the Disney Board, highlighted Williams’ “proven leadership and unique experience at the intersection of technology, global operations, and product design.” Gorman noted that these skills make Williams an invaluable asset as Disney navigates a future defined by both creative content and technical innovation. For his part, Williams shared his admiration for Disney’s long history of pairing imagination with innovation. “It is an honor to be nominated to the board of this storied company,” Williams stated.
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