Skipper to captain ESPN


Global sports broadcaster ESPN has promoted programming boss John Skipper to the position of president as long time boss George Bodenheimer becomes executive chairman.

Bodenheimer is currently president of ESPN and ABC Sports and co-chair of Disney Media Networks and he will relinquish his day-to-day operating responsibilities as of January 1. He will continue to chair ESPN’s board of directors.

Skipper, who has been executive vice president, content, since 2006, will report to Bodenheimer and The Walt Disney Company president and chief executive officer Bob Iger. 
Iger said: “George has said repeatedly that ESPN’s success has been led by its collaborative corporate culture and a deep bench of executive talent. While that remains true, it obviously and intentionally downplays his leadership and many significant contributions. We’ve focused on succession at all levels of Disney for some time now, and consistent with that approach, George initiated conversations last spring that led to today’s announcement.