As Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, Disney Media & Entertainment Distribution (DMED), Aaron LaBerge is responsible for driving the technological vision and strategic leadership for a global organization charged with keeping The Walt Disney Company at the forefront of serving consumers around the world. LaBerge and his team advance the company’s culture of innovation and builds industry-leading products, services, and infrastructure that deliver the entertainment and sports content consumers around the world want, with more choice, personalization and convenience.
Under LaBerge, Technology – DMED is responsible for the design, development and deployment of a portfolio of more than 90 consumer-facing digital products for the company globally; software engineering and development in support of a wide range of the company’s products and businesses; next-generation content supply chains; advertising technology and products; and global network and production operations, engineering and technologies for The Walt Disney Company’s television networks. He and his teams work with divisions across the company to create exceptional experiences for consumers; develop and manage large-scale technological solutions and standards; unleash the benefits of Disney’s world-class technological infrastructure and media facilities; create next-generation video and audio platforms; and empower Disney’s unmatched creators and creative engines.
LaBerge works in close coordination with other technology leaders across The Walt Disney Company, including Parks, Experiences, and Consumer Products; Enterprise Technology; Walt Disney Studios; and more. Collectively, they shape the strategic use of technology to drive companywide growth, drive use of data to engage and entertain consumers, leverage shared services to reduce risk and maximize best practice, and utilize Disney’s size and scale while developing and integrating key technologies into new and expanded areas of business.
LaBerge was previously Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, ESPN. At ESPN he played an instrumental role in the growth of ESPN’s consumer-facing digital media products and services – leading many of ESPN’s most ambitious and challenging projects and helping establish ESPN’s position as the leader in digital sports and new technology development. He was a key architect in the design, development and engineering of ESPN’s state-of-the-art facilities in Bristol, CT; Los Angeles, CA; Charlotte, NC; and Austin, TX, as well as data centers and infrastructure that connect ESPN facilities around the world, and the technology design and development to support the industry-leading launch of the multi-platform SEC Network.
LaBerge had two stints at ESPN, separated by six years as a technology entrepreneur and CEO of Fanzter Inc., a venture-funded consumer software and digital product development company, which he co-founded in 2007. At Fanzter, he directed all operations and led the development and launch of a variety of consumer-focused internet and mobile products, ground-breaking social technologies and more.
He first joined The Walt Disney Company in 1997, through Disney’s acquisition of Starwave Ventures, the company that produced ESPN’s earliest Internet products. Before joining Starwave, he worked as a senior software engineer at Renaissance Interactive, an early Internet development and consulting firm, specializing in publishing and content management systems.
A passionate technologist, innovator, comic book aficionado, and an avid sports fan, LaBerge is a native of Charleston, S.C. and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical and computer engineering from the University of South Carolina. He lives in Connecticut and works regularly in New York, Los Angeles and other locations.