John Skipper new president of ESPN and George Bodenheimer moves as executive chairman

The Walt Disney Company president and CEO Robert A. Iger announced that he has named George Bodenheimer executive chairman of ESPN, and John Skipper ESPN president and co-chair of Disney Media Networks, effective January 1, 2012. The new appointments keep the Company’s focus on ensuring strategic continuity and succession planning.Bodenheimer, currently president of ESPN and ABC Sports and co-chair of Disney Media Networks, will relinquish his day-to-day operating responsibilities January 1. As executive chairman of ESPN, Bodenheimer will continue to chair ESPN’s Board of Directors, provide strategic direction and support a seamless transition to Skipper, who will assume day-to-day operating responsibilities January 1. Skipper has served as ESPN’s EVP, Content, since October 2005. Bodenheimer will continue to report to Iger. Skipper will have a dual report to Iger and Bodenheimer. “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,” Iger said. Bodenheimer’s 13 years as president of ESPN have been marked by expansive growth domestically and internationally across every available metric and media platform. “George set a high bar and an impeccable example, and I will dedicate all of my energy to follow George’s lead in both empowering and supporting my 7,000 ESPN colleagues who do such great work every day,” Skipper added.