PENN Names Ex-Disney Tech Executive Aaron LaBerge as CTO

PENN Entertainment has unveiled the appointment of the experienced Aaron LaBerge to its team. According to the announcement, the former Walt Disney tech specialist will serve the operator group as its new chief technology officer, effective July 1.

In his new role, LaBerge will leverage his expertise to drive the company’s technology strategy and execution. As CTO, he will be tasked with leading a multinational team of technologists and serving as the key business leader for PENN’s interactive division.

According to PENN, LaBerge has spent over two decades at The Walt Disney Company, in two stints separated by five and a half years. Most recently, LaBerge served as the president and chief technology officer for Disney Entertainment and ESPN. In this position, he was tasked with driving all tech and product development for the two media divisions.

Before his most recent role at the Walt Disney Company, LaBerge served as executive vice president and chief technology officer at ESPN. He was instrumental in the growth of the sports media company’s consumer-facing digital media products and services and led many of ESPN’s most ambitious and challenging projects.

Between 2007 and 2012, LaBerge also served as co-founder and chief executive officer of Fantzer, a venture-funded consumer software and digital product development company. In that position, PENN’s new CTO directed all day-to-day operations and led the development and launch of many consumer-focused digital products.

LaBerge Is Excited to Join PENN Entertainment

Described as a passionate engineer, technologist, innovator, and an avid sports fan, the new appointee will report directly to Jay Snowden, PENN’s president and chief executive officer.

Snowden commented on the appointment, welcoming LaBerge to the PENN executive team. The CEO said that he is glad to have someone of the new hire’s caliber join the company’s C-suite.

Having overseen a global organization of thousands of engineers, product developers, designers, technologists, and data scientists that created some of the largest scale and most successful media properties in the world, there is no better candidate to lead our Technology and Interactive division into its future.

Jay Snowden, president & CEO, PENN Entertainment

Snowden added that LaBerge will work with Todd George, PENN’s head of operations, and the entire executive team to continue growing the operator’s position in the gambling and sports media sector.

LaBerge also commented on his new appointment, saying that he is excited to join the talented team at PENN. He said: “I plan to use my experience from Disney and ESPN to help make ESPN BET an essential piece of the sports fan experience. Together, we’ll push the limits and redefine how fans interact with sports and gaming.”