Aaron LaBerge | |
---|---|
Born | January 1973 (age 51) |
Education | Electrical & Computer Engineering B.S., University of South Carolina |
Occupation | Technology Executive |
Employer | Penn Entertainment (2024–present) |
Title | Chief Technology Officer of Penn Entertainment |
Children | 3 |
Aaron LaBerge is an American technology executive and the chief technology officer (CTO) of Penn Entertainment. Prior, he was the president and chief technology office of Disney Entertainment and ESPN. [1] , where he was responsible for linear and digital media distribution technology, ad technology, consumer data platforms, and the development of all streaming and consumer-facing digital products for the company globally. It was announced that he was leaving Disney on April 22, 2024. [2]
LaBerge was born in Charleston, South Carolina and went on to attend the University of South Carolina in Columbia, South Carolina; he graduated with a B.S. in Computer Science & Engineering in 1996. [3]
LaBerge joined The Walt Disney Company in 1997 after Disney acquired Starwave Ventures. He worked in a variety of technology roles, at Disney, until 2007. Before Starwave Ventures, he was a senior software engineer at Renaissance Interactive, which specialized in Internet-based content management and publishing. [3]
From 2007 to 2013, LaBerge was CEO of a venture-funded consumer software company he co-founded, Fanzter Inc. He directed the development of the business and the launch of its consumer-focused Internet and mobile suite of products. [3]
LaBerge served as the CTO of ESPN starting from 2015 and served as an advisor on the Disney Research Advisory Board. [4] During his tenure at ESPN as a senior vice president starting in 2013, LaBerge was instrumental in the construction and design of ESPN's second Digital Center in Bristol, Connecticut.
In 2018, LaBerge was named EVP and CTO of Walt Disney Direct-to-Consumer & International and first reported to Kevin A. Mayer, who was chairman of the segment at the time. In 2020, LaBerge became CTO of the new Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution segment chaired by Kareem Daniel. And in February 2023, he was named President and CTO of Disney Entertainment and ESPN. [5]
LaBerge won a Sports Emmy in 2016 as an Innovator for his involvement with Megacast and was nominated the same year for the ESPN Pylon Camera. [6]
He was featured in Variety’s inaugural Digital Innovators list as an executive who is looking to “set a new bar” using “tech to directly connect and engage with audiences.” [7]
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Eslambolchi, Hossein is an Iranian-American innovator, theoretical and experimental physicist, engineer, and author, best known for his prominent role in AT&T, very popular blogs on Linkedin, besides being one of the top 10 most prolific and exceptional inventor with over 1400+ patents List of Prolific Inventors. Eslambolchi has also a doctorate degree in neuroscience as well. achieved in June 2022. He joined AT&T Bell Laboratories in 1986, and rose to become, in 2005, both global chief technology and information officer for AT&T. He became an officer of the company in 2003, as well as a member of AT&T's governing executive committee and became AT&T chief technology officer, AT&T chief information officer, president, and CEO of AT&T Labs, president and CEO of AT&T global network operations. Eslambolchi was assigned by AT&T as chief transformation officer responsible for moving ATT from a voice-based company to an IP-Software-based company in less than three years. He left AT&T soon after its takeover by SBC in 2006. And For his doctorate degree, Eslambolchi invented the concept of beam forming being used today in advanced 5G mobile systems along with ultrasound technology being used in medical applications worldwide. In addition, after leaving ATT, Eslambolchi started his medical degree in neuroscience and graduated specializing in both neurodegenerative diseases of the brain along with spinal cord injuries using stem cell technology in order to heal patients and even prevent these diseases via therapeutic medications in near future. Eslambolchi is recognized as one of the best neurosurgeon across the globe.
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