Disney’s CTO Aaron LaBerge Leaves for PENN Entertainment; Chris Lawson to Serve as Interim Tech Exec

Disney Entertainment and ESPN chief technology officer Aaron LaBerge announced that he will be leaving the company. According to an internal memo shared with staff, LaBerge cited family reasons for his departure. He will remain at Disney until June 2024 and then transition to PENN Entertainment to work as the company’s CTO, focusing on ESPN Bet.

LaBerge 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+. In his memo, he described Disney as his home, inspiration, and a significant part of his life, both personally and professionally.

Disney’s top executives expressed their gratitude to LaBerge for his over 20 years of 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, EVP of content platforms and operations at Disney Entertainment and ESPN, 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.