The Walt Disney Company has appointed Pakistan-born executive Asad Ayaz as its chief marketing and brand officer, placing him in charge of a newly established, company-wide marketing organization.
In this role, Ayaz will be responsible for unifying Disney’s marketing strategy across its diverse businesses, including theme parks, film and television studios, sports operations, and consumer products, to deliver a more cohesive brand experience.
Commenting on the appointment, Disney Chief Executive Officer Bob Iger said the company’s evolution has created a need for stronger, centralized brand leadership to ensure consistency and seamless engagement with audiences. He described Ayaz as ideally suited to lead this effort.
Asad Ayaz
Born in Pakistan in 1978, Ayaz is the son of a senior Pakistan Air Force officer. He spent part of his early life in the Middle East during his father’s diplomatic postings to Syria and Lebanon, before relocating to the United States as a teenager.
He earned his undergraduate degree from Bennington College in Vermont and later completed a master’s degree in economics at the University of Southern California.
A two-decade veteran of the company, Ayaz was appointed Disney’s first chief brand officer in 2023, taking charge of brand-led marketing initiatives across the organization.
He played a key role in overseeing campaigns marking Disney’s 100th anniversary as well as the 70th anniversary of Disneyland.
Over the past eight years, Ayaz also served as president of marketing for Walt Disney Studios, where he led promotional strategies for some of Disney’s biggest box-office successes, including Marvel Studios’ Black Panther, 20th Century Studios’ Avatar: The Way of Water, and Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Frozen 2.
In addition, Ayaz has spearheaded marketing efforts for Disney+ in recent years, guiding campaigns for flagship titles such as The Mandalorian, Lucasfilm’s critically acclaimed Andor, and the global streaming release of Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour (Taylor’s Version) on the platform.
