Alisa Bowen exits Disney+ to become CEO of Disney-controlled Fubo
Alisa Bowen exits Disney as president of Disney+ to become chief executive of Fubo, the live TV streaming service that Disney now controls after merging Hulu + Live TV into the platform last fall. Bowen, who led Disney+ since September 2022, starts as Fubo CEO on July 10 and succeeds longtime leader David Gandler. The leadership shuffle signals Disney is placing a trusted streaming veteran at the helm of its internet-TV bet while leaving the Disney+ presidency vacant for now.
Key Takeaways
- Bowen leaves Disney+ after nearly a decade at Disney, including work scaling Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN streaming.
- Fubo's board named her CEO effective July 10, 2026, replacing co-founder David Gandler, who is also departing the board.
- Disney holds a 70% stake in Fubo following last fall's Hulu + Live TV merger.
- No immediate successor has been named for Bowen's Disney+ role; Joe Earley and Adam Smith oversee Disney's unified streaming business.
- Bowen is expected to join Fubo's board after stockholder approval at the July 28 annual meeting.
Why is Alisa Bowen leaving Disney+ now?
Fubo announced Thursday that its board appointed Bowen as chief executive officer, effective July 10. She succeeds David Gandler, who co-founded FuboTV and led the company as CEO for more than a decade. Gandler is also leaving the Fubo board.
The timing follows Disney and Fubo's completion last fall of a deal merging Hulu + Live TV operations into Fubo. Disney now owns a 70% stake in the combined company, making Fubo a Disney-controlled platform in the fast-growing internet TV market.
What does this mean for Disney+ and Hulu?
It is not immediately clear whether Disney will appoint a direct replacement for Bowen at Disney+. The company now operates a unified streaming business led by Joe Earley, president of direct-to-consumer at Disney Entertainment, who oversees both Disney+ and Hulu alongside Adam Smith, chief product and technology officer for Disney Entertainment and ESPN.
Bowen's exit removes a president-level leader who had been closely tied to Disney+'s growth since taking the role in September 2022. For ongoing coverage of streaming leadership moves, see our Streaming & TV Alerts hub.
Who is Alisa Bowen and what is her track record?
Bowen has held leadership positions at Disney for nearly 10 years. She was a founding member of Disney's streaming leadership team, helping spearhead the strategy, buildout, and scaling of Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+. Before Disney, she held leadership roles at News Corp, Dow Jones, and Thomson Reuters.
In a statement, Fubo's board described Bowen as a proven operator with nearly 30 years of product, digital, and operational experience. Directors said they conducted a thoughtful process to find a leader to advance Fubo's strategy and performance at a pivotal moment after the Hulu + Live TV combination.
What happens next at Fubo under Bowen?
Bowen is expected to join Fubo's board of directors, subject to approval following the company's annual meeting of stockholders on July 28. Her appointment places a Disney insider at the top of a platform Disney majority-owns, even as she steps away from day-to-day oversight of Disney+.
Industry watchers will be watching whether Disney names a new Disney+ president and how Bowen steers Fubo amid intensifying competition in live streaming. For the original report, see Variety's coverage.