Jeff Williams stepped into a new chapter soon after retiring from Apple. He now stands as one of Disney’s newest board nominees, positioning himself for a key role at the company’s 2026 annual shareholders meeting. His move signals a quick shift from years inside Apple’s leadership to a fresh seat in another global powerhouse.
Williams left Apple last month after handing the chief operating officer role to Sabih Khan earlier this year. His work touched nearly every part of Apple’s operations, from supply chain to customer service. He also shaped major product areas, including Apple Watch and the company’s health efforts.
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Now Disney plans to expand its board to 11 members as part of its next leadership cycle.
Disney Confirms His Nomination
Variety reports that Disney nominated Williams as a new independent director and plans to present him for election next year. The company holds its annual meetings in late March or early April, and Williams will be part of that agenda.
In a statement shared with Variety, Williams expressed his interest in joining the company:
“I have long admired Disney’s legacy of pairing imagination with innovation, leveraging new technologies in bold, creative ways to bring to life timeless stories and entertain its guests. It is an honor to be nominated to the board of this storied company. I look forward to working with Disney’s talented leadership team and contributing to the company’s ongoing journey of creativity and excellence.”
Williams brings three decades of experience from Apple. He served as chief operating officer from 2015 to 2025 and led design from 2023 until his retirement. He also oversaw Apple Watch engineering and guided the health division.
Disney’s board already includes Bob Iger, GM CEO Mary Barra, former Morgan Stanley Executive Chairman James Gorman, former Sky CEO Jeremy Darroch, Lululemon CEO Calvin McDonald, and others. Williams will join this group if elected next spring.
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