Aaron LaBerge, who currently serves as the chief technology officer for Disney Entertainment and ESPN, has announced his departure from the company due to personal reasons related to his family. He is expected to remain with Disney until June 2024, after which he will join PENN Entertainment as the company’s new CTO overseeing ESPN Bet.
LaBerge shared an internal memo with staff explaining that his decision to leave was driven by the needs of his family. He assured that he is working with company executives to ensure a smooth transition and will be available until the end of June to facilitate the handover process and set the team up for continued success. Despite his departure, LaBerge expressed confidence in the team and leadership at Disney.
During his tenure at Disney, LaBerge played a key role in the development of Disney’s streaming services and was instrumental in integrating advertising into the Disney+ platform. His contributions were acknowledged by ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro and Disney Entertainment co-chairs Dana Walden and Alan Bergman in an internal memo obtained by CNBC, where they thanked LaBerge for his 20 years of service to the company.
As LaBerge moves on to his new role at ESPN Bet, Chris Lawson, EVP of content platforms and operations at Disney Entertainment and ESPN, will step in as the interim tech executive. The company is actively seeking a permanent replacement for the position to continue driving technological advancements and innovation for Disney and ESPN.