ESPN announced Thursday that its business functions and executive management have been reorganized into six specific areas -- content, technology, sales and marketing, international, finance and administration.
“Changes in our management ranks presented an opportunity to redefine our structure,” ESPN and ABC Sports president and Disney Media Networks co-chairman George Bodenheimer said in a prepared statement.
“Aggregating all of our creative energies in one division; placing all sales and marketing in one area to sell our growing menu of services; consolidating oversight of all technology; and affirming the centralized management of all international businesses are powerful statements,” he added. “I’m excited about the prospects of this realignment and the people leading these areas. Not only does this reaffirm ESPN as the leading sports media entity, it will strengthen our commitment to serving sports fans.”
The new leadership of the six areas, all of whom report to Bodenheimer, will be:
• Content: John Skipper has been promoted to executive vice president, content; from executive VP, advertising sales and ESPN Enterprises. Norby Williamson has been upped to executive VP, studio and remote production, from senior VP and managing editor. Salil Mehta remains executive VP, ESPN Enterprises, continuing to oversee ESPN Consumer Products, ESPN New Media and Mobile ESPN. John Wildhack has been elevated to senior VP, programming acquisitions and strategy. David Berson has been promoted to senior VP, program planning and development for ESPN and ABC Sports. And continuing in their current roles: John Walsh, executive VP and executive editor for all media outlets; Ron Semiao, senior VP, ESPN Original Entertainment; Rick Barry, senior VP, programming and production administration; and Marie Donoghue, VP, business affairs and development
• Technology: Chuck Pagano has been elevated to executive VP, technology, from senior VP, technology, engineering and operations. Paul Cushing has been upped to senior VP, management information technology. Aaron LaBerge will assume the newly created position of VP, technology. And the new position of VP, engineering, has yet to be filled.
• Sales and marketing: Sean Bratches has been promoted to executive VP, sales and marketing, from president, Disney and ESPN Networks affiliate sales and marketing. Ben Pyne will assume Bratches’ former post. Remaining in their current roles: Ed Erhardt,president of ESPN ABC Sports customer marketing and sales; Artie Bulgrin,senior VP, research and sales development; and Peter Rosenberger,VP, special-events marketing. A new senior VP, marketing for ESPN and ABC Sports will also be named.
• International: Russell Wolffwill continue in his current role of executive VP and managing director, ESPN International.
• Finance: Christine Driessen will remain executive VP and chief financial officer.
• Administration: Continuing in his role will be Ed Durso, executive VP, administration.
