ESPN has named Disney exec James Pitaro as its new president

• ESPN has named Disney executive James Pitaro as its new president.
• Pitaro had been the chairman of Disney consumer products and interactive media since 2016.

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ESPN has named Disney executive James Pitaro as its new president, the company announced Monday.

Pitaro had been a leading candidate for the job since John Skipper left the position in December, citing substance abuse issues, according to The Hollywood Reporter . Pitaro has also been named the cochair of Disney Media Network and will report directly to Disney CEO Bob Iger, Disney said in a release.

Pitaro had been the chairman of Disney consumer products and interactive media since 2016. He was formerly a vice president and head of Yahoo! Media.

"Jimmy is a talented and dedicated leader with the right strategic vision, relentless drive and passion for sports required to lead the stellar ESPN team at this incredibly dynamic time," Iger said in a statement. "Jimmy forged his career at the intersection of technology, sports and media, and his vast experience and keen perspective will be invaluable in taking ESPN into the future."

In a release, ESPN touted Pitaro's hiring as coming at "a time of great opportunity" for the company, as ESPN is prepping the launch of its new direct-to-consumer subscription streaming service, ESPN+.

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