Chris Thomes

Chris Thomes is a multi-Emmy Award-winning creative executive and pioneering producer in Television, digital media and real-time animation. Chris was a senior executive at the Walt Disney Company for over 20 years, serving as the head of their digital studio and VP of creative strategy and marketing for Walt Disney Television Studios. He was the key figure in ABC's multiscreen experience with the award-winning Oscars All Access, delivered micro-series original programming for brands ranging from Marvel to the Muppets, and was instrumental in launching Disney's virtual production stage, the Infinity, focused on scaling episodic television with partners like Industrial Light and Magic. After his tenure at Disney, Chris transitioned to other entertainment and interactive startup ventures, including an AI powered recruiting platform and an animated show for the blockchain. Chris is currently consulting on AI workflows and creative technologies for a variety of companies, including serving as the head of AI and creative tech for Exceptional Minds (EM), a digital arts academy and animation and VFX studio providing services for companies like Disney, Marvel, Nickelodeon, and Cartoon Network. Chris also serves as a key instructor at EM teaching VFX and AI workflows and writes and directs independent films in his spare time.