Disney appointed a person in charge of developing the metaverse

The virtual worlds will be created by a team led by Mike White, who has worked with ABC, National Geographic, Marvel, and Star Wars brands

17.02.2022 - 12:10

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What’s new? A memo obtained by Variety reveals that Disney CEO Bob Chapek has hired CTO Mike White as Vice President of next-generation storytelling and consumer experiences. According to Chapek, the work on the metaverse will be handled by a team that has engaged in digital projects for ABC, National Geographic, Marvel, and Star Wars.

Variety’s material

Who is Mike White? White has worked at Disney for about 11 years, previously serving as senior vice president of consumer experience. Bob Chapek writes in a memo:

“Mike brings to this role 25 years of technology leadership experience, and he has a track record of driving innovation, pushing boundaries, and creating meaningful partnerships. In addition to more than a decade in Silicon Valley, Mike has led product and technology teams across multiple business units here at Disney and has a history of enabling transformation — especially when it comes to bridging the physical and digital worlds.”

What are Disney’s plans for the metaverse? Chapek called the metaverse “the next great storytelling frontier” in the memo. He said White, in his new role, will “help connect these in-flight efforts” of the company in this area. Chapek writes:

“For nearly 100 years, our company has defined and redefined entertainment by leveraging technology to bring stories to life in deeper, more impactful ways. Today, we have an opportunity to connect those universes and create an entirely new paradigm for how audiences experience and engage with our stories.”

Earlier, Disney was granted a patent for the technology for the metaverse. The entertainment giant plans to use it to merge virtual and physical worlds in its amusement park.

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