Jon Snoddy
CEO, Operative Games; Former Advanced Development Studio Executive, Walt Disney Imagineering
Jon Snoddy is CEO of Operative Games, a new company that is reinventing storytelling by combining AI Controlled characters with great Hollywood writing. Jon is CEO of Operative Games, an angel investor, board member and the former head of Walt Disney Corporate R&D and the Technology groups at Disney Imagineering. He left Disney last year to launch Operative Games, a company using AI controlled characters to tell emotionally resonant stories. At Disney, Snoddy lead a mix of artists, scientists, technologists, and engineers, working to invent the next generation of entertainment experiences. He has built world renowned teams in the US, Europe, and Asia working in Software, Materials Science, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Next Generation Storytelling, Interactive Character Experiences, and Optics. Jon started his career as a recording engineer at NPR in Washington then joined Lucasfilm before moving on to Disney. There, as a Concept Designer, he led ride development for Disneyland’s Indiana Jones™ Adventure and founded the Disney VR Studio which produced the award-winning Aladdin VR Adventure. He left Disney to launch Game Works LLC with DreamWorks, Sega, and Universal Studios, led redevelopment projects like Centum City in Busan, Kr., developed movie theater games with TimePlay Entertainment, and personalized video sharing with Bigstage Entertainment. After selling BigStage, Jon returned to Disney to lead R&D. He holds over 20 patents in a broad range of areas.
