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Aaron LaBerge is an American technology executive and the president & chief technology officer (CTO) of Disney Entertainment and ESPN.[1] He has been recognized as an innovator in content delivery and sports coverage.[2]
Aaron LaBerge | |
|---|---|
 LaBerge in 2019 | |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Computer Science & Engineering B.S., University of South Carolina |
| Occupation | Technology executive |
| Title | President & CTO, Disney Entertainment and ESPN |
| Term | 2020–present |
Early life edit
LaBerge was born in Charleston, South Carolina and went on to attend the University of South Carolina in Columbia, South Carolina; he graduated with a B.S. in Computer Science & Engineering in 1996.[3]
Career edit
LaBerge joined The Walt Disney Company in 1997 after Disney acquired Starwave Ventures. Before Starwave Ventures, he was a senior software engineer at Renaissance Interactive, which specialized in Internet-based content management and publishing.[3]
From 2007 to 2013, LaBerge was CEO of a venture-funded consumer software company he co-founded, Fanzter Inc. He directed the development of the business and the launch of its consumer-focused Internet and mobile suite of products.[3]
Prior to joining DTCI, LaBerge served as the CTO of ESPN starting from 2015 and served as an advisor on the Disney Research Advisory Board.[4] During his tenure at ESPN as a senior vice president starting in 2013, LaBerge was instrumental in the construction and design of ESPN's second Digital Center in Bristol, Connecticut.
In 2018, LaBerge was named EVP and CTO of Walt Disney Direct-to-Consumer & International and first reported to Kevin A. Mayer, who was chairman of the segment at the time. In 2020, LaBerge became CTO of the new Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution segment chaired by Kareem Daniel.
Recognition edit
LaBerge won a Sports Emmy in 2016 as an Innovator for his involvement with Megacast and was nominated the same year for the ESPN Pylon Camera.[5]
He was featured in Variety’s inaugural Digital Innovators list as an executive who is looking to “set a new bar” using “tech to directly connect and engage with audiences.”[2]