ESPN executive vice president of programming and production Mark Shapiro is leaving the network Oct. 1.
Shapiro will become CEO of Red Zone LLC, a private investment company focused on a range of entertainment properties, founded by Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder.
Shapiro joined the network in 1993 as a production assistant for ESPN2’s Talk2. He served as coordinating producer for ESPN’s Peabody Award-winning SportsCentury from 1997-99. Then, as general manager, he led ESPN Classic through an expansive growth period. In 2001, he became senior VP and GM of programming for all of ESPN, and he rose to his current position in 2002.
“With Mark’s help, we have infused our management team with pushing creative boundaries and taking smart risks,” ESPN and ABC Sports president and Disney Media Networks co-chairman George Bodenheimer said in a prepared statement. “We have a veteran team of programming and production executives at ESPN, and I am confident that our company will be well-served going forward.”
