In a surprising announcement, Aaron LaBerge, the chief technology officer for Disney Entertainment and ESPN, has revealed that he will be leaving the company for personal reasons. LaBerge will be taking on the role of CTO at PENN Entertainment, the operator of ESPN Bet, the licensed online sportsbook for the sports media company. Despite his departure, LaBerge will continue to work at Disney until June.
Throughout his tenure at Disney, LaBerge has played a pivotal role in the development of the company’s streaming services and the integration of advertising into Disney+. He was also instrumental in the unification of Hulu and Disney+ within one streaming application, which was launched just last month. At ESPN, LaBerge has been a driving force behind the company’s streaming services, including ESPN+ and the upcoming flagship streaming service set to launch in 2025.
LaBerge’s departure adds to a growing list of veteran Disney executives who have left the company in recent years. This includes former CEO Bob Chapek, former head of streaming Kevin Mayer, ex-finance chief Christine McCarthy, former Walt Disney Studios Chairman Alan Horn, former Disney general counsel Alan Braverman, ex-head of communications Zenia Mucha, and former president of Walt Disney Pictures Sean Bailey.
Despite his departure, LaBerge’s contributions to Disney have not gone unnoticed. In an internal note to employees, ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro and Disney Entertainment co-Chairmen Dana Walden and Alan Bergman expressed their gratitude for LaBerge’s contributions and leadership over his 20-year tenure. They also highlighted that his transition to PENN Entertainment will allow him to continue to support Disney and ESPN in their growth and success.
A search for LaBerge’s successor is already underway, with Chris Lawson, currently Disney’s executive vice president of content operations and one of LaBerge’s direct reports, set to take over the role on an interim basis when LaBerge departs.
LaBerge first joined Disney in the late 1990s through the company’s acquisition of Starwave, a company founded by Paul Allen that partnered with ESPN before being fully acquired by Disney in 1998.
Overall, LaBerge’s departure marks another significant change within the Disney executive team. His contributions to the development of Disney’s streaming services and technology strategies have been invaluable, and his move to PENN Entertainment will undoubtedly bring new opportunities for growth and innovation. As Disney continues to navigate the evolving landscape of entertainment and technology, the search for LaBerge’s successor will be a crucial step in ensuring the company’s continued success.
