Walt Disney Company

Disney brings back Bob Iger as CEO: Here’s the crypto connection

Since leaving The Walt Disney Company, Bob Iger has been acting as an adviser and board member for the digital avatar platform Genies.

Metaverse-backer Bob Iger has announced a surprise return to his former role as CEO of Disney, taking over from now-former CEO Bob Chapek.

While Iger is most well known for serving 15 years as the CEO of the global entertainment conglomerate, the Disney executive became known in the crypto community after becoming a director, adviser and investor in Genies, a digital avatar platform running on Dapper Labs’ Flow blockchain.

“Thrilled to be joining the Genies Board of Directors to help Akash Nigam and company empower humans to create the ‘mobile apps of Web3’: avatar ecosystems,” Iger said at the time.

Iger was still at Disney as an executive and board chairman when the company filed for a metaverse-related patent on Dec. 28.

The patent was for a “virtual-world simulator in a real-world venue,” and according to the filing, would allow visitors to Disney theme parks to use mobile phones to generate and project personalized 3D effects onto nearby physical spaces, such as walls and other objects.

However, Disney said at the time there were “no current plans” to use the “virtual-world simulator” patent, and the company has yet to announce any products related to the patent.

Related: Silicon Valley tech CEOs are not big fans of metaverses

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Iger’s return will reportedly only be temporary, though, with Iger only agreeing to serve as Disney’s CEO for the next two years. 

During his new term as CEO, Iger will reportedly work with the board to set the strategic direction for the company and work to develop a successor.

In his absence, Disney has continued to work toward projects involving the metaverse, nonfungible tokens (NFTs) and blockchain throughout the year.

In September, Disney started hiring a principal counsel to work on transactions involving NFTs, the metaverse, blockchain and decentralized finance (DeFi).

Specifically seeking someone to provide “full product life cycle legal advice and support for global NFT products” and ensure they comply with all current laws and regulations on United States soil and internationally.

Disney seeks corporate lawyer for ’emerging technologies’ and NFTs

The role includes “full product life cycle legal advice and support for global NFT products,” among other responsibilities.

The Walt Disney Company could be on the verge of expanding into the crypto space after posting a new job for an “experienced corporate attorney” to work on “emerging technologies” such as nonfungible tokens (NFTs) and the Metaverse. 

According to the Sept. 23 listing on the Disney careers website, the company is hiring for a “Principal Counsel — Corporate Transactions, Emerging Technologies & NFTs” to work on transactions involving NFTs, the Metaverse, blockchain, and decentralized finance (DeFi).

Specifically the entertainment conglomerate is seeking someone to provide “full product life cycle legal advice and support for global NFT products” and ensure they comply with all current laws and regulations on U.S. soil and internationally.

Other duties include “due diligence for NFT, blockchain, third-party marketplace and cloud provider projects,” as well as providing regular legal advice on cryptocurrency-related matters, and digital currency and guiding Disney’s efforts in relation to emerging technologies.

The new role comes as The Walt Disney Company has been slowly positioning itself around the crypto, blockchain, and Metaverse space.

During the company’s fourth-quarter earnings call in November 2021, CEO Bob Chapek said the firm was preparing to blend physical and digital assets in the Metaverse.

Weeks later the company filed a patent for a “virtual-world simulator” referring to a potential theme-park metaverse.

According to the patent application, Disney’s possible foray into the Metaverse could involve visitors to their theme parks using mobile phones to generate and project personalized 3D effects onto nearby physical spaces, such as walls and other objects.

At the time it was reported there were “no current plans” to use the”virtual-world simulator” patent, however, the recent job listing could be a sign that this may be changing.

Related: Metaverse graphics aim for community and accessibility — Not realism

Earlier this year, the company focused on augmented reality (AR), nonfungible tokens (NFTs) and artificial intelligence (AI) in its 2022 Disney Accelerator Program, which selected six “growth-stage” companies to benefit from its business development platform.

Companies selected for the program this year included layer-2 scaling platform Polygon, along with two other Web3 projects — Flickplay, a Web3 application that allows users to discover NFTs via augmented reality (AR), and Lockerverse, a Web3 storytelling platform that connects creators and brands.

Disney seeks corporate lawyer for ‘emerging technologies’ and NFTs

The role includes “full product life cycle legal advice and support for global NFT products,” among other responsibilities.

The Walt Disney Company could be on the verge of expanding into the crypto space after posting a new job for an “experienced corporate attorney” to work on “emerging technologies” such as nonfungible tokens (NFTs) and the Metaverse. 

According to the Friday listing on the Disney careers website, the company is hiring for a “Principal Counsel — Corporate Transactions, Emerging Technologies & NFTs” to work on transactions involving NFTs, the Metaverse, blockchain and decentralized finance (DeFi).

Specifically the entertainment conglomerate is seeking someone to provide “full product life cycle legal advice and support for global NFT products” and ensure they comply with all current laws and regulations on United States soil and internationally.

Other duties include “due diligence for NFT, blockchain, third-party marketplace and cloud provider projects,” as well as providing regular legal advice on cryptocurrency-related matters, and digital currency and guiding Disney’s efforts in relation to emerging technologies.

The new role comes as The Walt Disney Company has been slowly positioning itself around the crypto, blockchain and metaverse space.

During the company’s fourth-quarter earnings call in November 2021, CEO Bob Chapek said the firm was preparing to blend physical and digital assets in the Metaverse.

Weeks later the company filed a patent for a “virtual-world simulator,” referring to a potential theme-park metaverse.

According to the patent application, Disney’s possible foray into the Metaverse could involve visitors to their theme parks using mobile phones to generate and project personalized 3D effects onto nearby physical spaces, such as walls and other objects.

At the time it was reported, there were “no current plans” to use the “virtual-world simulator” patent. However, the recent job listing could be a sign that this may be changing.

Related: Metaverse graphics aim for community and accessibility — Not realism

Earlier this year, the company focused on augmented reality (AR), NFTs and artificial intelligence (AI) in its 2022 Disney Accelerator Program, which selected six “growth-stage” companies to benefit from its business development platform.

Companies selected for the program this year included layer-2 scaling platform Polygon, along with two other Web3 projects — Flickplay, a Web3 application that allows users to discover NFTs via augmented reality (AR), and Lockerverse, a Web3 storytelling platform that connects creators and brands.