Disney Entertainment and ESPN have announced the departure of Aaron LaBerge, their chief technology officer. LaBerge cited family reasons for his decision to leave the company, which he has been a part of for over 20 years. He will remain at Disney until June 2024 before transitioning to PENN Entertainment to work as their CTO, focusing on ESPN Bet.
In an internal memo shared with staff and reported by The Wrap, LaBerge expressed his confidence in the team and leadership at Disney, promising to work on a smooth transition before his departure. During his time at Disney, he played a crucial role in developing Disney’s streaming services and integrating advertising into Disney+. He was also involved in the merger of Hulu and Disney+.
Disney’s top executives, including ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro and Disney Entertainment co-chairs Dana Walden and Alan Bergman, expressed their gratitude to LaBerge for his contributions to the company. They noted that his transition to PENN Entertainment would continue to benefit Disney and ESPN.
Following LaBerge’s departure, Chris Lawson will serve as the interim tech executive while the company searches for a permanent replacement for the CTO position. The top leadership at Disney expressed confidence in Lawson and the rest of the team to navigate this change and continue the company’s success.