ChainCatcher news, according to the official blog, blockchain software technology company ConsenSys has announced the appointment of Dan Odell as Chief Financial Officer (CFO). In his new role, Odell will be responsible for overseeing all financial operations, including accounting, tax, finance, strategic finance, and investor relations.It is reported that Odell joined ConsenSys after successfully guiding the metaverse technology company Improbable through a strategic business model transformation, significantly increasing the company's revenue and improving its capital situation. Prior to joining Improbable, Odell worked at The Walt Disney Company for over 15 years, holding various positions including Vice President of Global Product Management for Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, CFO of Maker Studios, CFO of Mobile Games, and Director of Global Financial Planning for Disney Consumer Products.

ChainCatcher news, according to VentureBeat, Galactic Group, led by former Disney and Sony executives, has launched a Web3 game publishing division called Galactic Entertainment Publishing.The company is based in Dubai and is dedicated to supporting emerging Web3 game studios in developing AAA games. Galactic's first game, "Planet Exploration," is currently in development and has attracted over 250,000 fans to participate in co-creating the storyline and setting. In addition, the company will adopt a player-owned model, allowing players to own and trade in-game assets.

ChainCatcher news, according to CoinDesk, Disney has partnered with NBA Top Shot developer Dapper Labs to launch a mobile-based NFT application called Disney Pinnacle, offering "early access, closed release" to invited users (those on the waitlist for testing and feedback). Dapper's Senior Product Manager Rachel Rogers stated in an email that the official release will debut on the Apple App Store, followed by launches on web browsers and the Google Play Store.

ChainCatcher news, according to Bloomberg, Meta's Vice President of Global Affairs Nick Clegg reiterated that the company will continue to develop the metaverse, where the future of computing will take place in this still poorly defined virtual world. He promised that the clunky experiences of today's metaverse applications will eventually be replaced by a more user-friendly experience. Clegg stated, "We will continue to develop this technology because early evidence suggests that such technology will be at the core of future computing platforms. But this will take time."Additionally, Clegg mentioned that Meta can primarily monetize its investments in the metaverse in two ways: advertising and e-commerce. He also emphasized that the company is committed to involving researchers, civil organizations, and other companies in the development of the metaverse.Meta, Disney, and Microsoft have recently scaled back their metaverse-related businesses. (Bloomberg)

According to ChainCatcher, the Wall Street Journal reports that Disney has initiated its first round of layoffs, expecting to cut 7,000 jobs, which is a key part of its $5.5 billion cost-cutting plan announced in February. The first batch of employees will receive layoff notices within the next four days, and a larger second round of layoffs will take place in April, affecting thousands of employees. As part of the layoff plan, the metaverse division will be eliminated, with approximately 50 members of that team being laid off entirely. (Source link)

ChainCatcher news, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian stated in an interview with CNBC that the difference with Web3 lies in use cases like NFTs. Ohanian expressed his hope that Web3 can address issues of intellectual property and ownership, mentioning that Doodles aims to create the next Disney and an entire IP universe, as this NFT gives users "shares," allowing people to feel a sense of ownership.Ohanian added that investing in NFTs is akin to investing in companies like Disney; previously, people could only find 'Mickey Mouse paintings' for auction but could not invest in or own a stake in media companies. This is the "special aspect" of Web3. According to public information, the NFTs that Alexis Ohanian has invested in include Moonbirds, Doodles, and the NFT series under BAYC's parent company Yuga Labs. (source link)

ChainCatcher news, according to reports from Hollywood, NFT virtual avatar platform Genies board member Bob Iger will once again serve as Disney CEO. Previously in March, Bob Iger, the former CEO of Disney, joined the Genies board, becoming a director, advisor, and investor for Genies.It is reported that Bob Iger has only agreed to serve as Disney CEO for the next two years. During his new term, Bob Iger will work with the board to set the strategic direction for the company and strive to cultivate a successor. (Cointelegraph)

According to ChainCatcher news, a job posting on LinkedIn shows that Disney is looking for a lawyer to explore emerging technology opportunities, including NFTs. This employee will work with business teams to explore other areas, such as the metaverse and DeFi, as they plan new global emerging technology projects.The job posting also states, "Assist in due diligence on NFT, blockchain, third-party marketplace, and cloud provider projects, and negotiate and draft complex agreements for these projects." (Source link)

Chain Catcher news, Disney's head of gaming business, Vice President Luigi Priore, stated in an interview that while Disney is currently closely monitoring the blockchain industry, there are no announcements regarding blockchain projects at this time, and the focus will be on industry and market trend changes. A representative from Disney's gaming business clarified in a subsequent statement that the company has no plans for NFTs or blockchain games. (Source link)