PENN Entertainment has announced the appointment of Aaron LaBerge as its Chief Technology Officer, with a focus on ESPN Bet. LaBerge will be leaving Disney Entertainment and ESPN after nearly 20 years at the company, citing family reasons for his departure. He will remain at Disney until June 2024 to facilitate a smooth transition before joining PENN Entertainment.
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+. During his time at Disney, he described it 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 contributions to the company and noted that his transition to PENN Entertainment would continue to benefit Disney and ESPN. 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.