James Pitaro
James Pitaro | |
|---|---|
 Pitaro in 2025 | |
| Born | August 2, 1969 |
| Education | Cornell University (B.S.) St. John's University School of Law (J.D.) |
| Occupation | Media executive |
| Employer | The Walt Disney Company via ESPN Inc. including ABC (2018–present) |
| Title | Co-Chairman, Disney Media Networks President, ESPN, Inc. |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
James Pitaro (born August 2, 1969) is an American media executive who has been the chairman of ESPN Inc. since 2023. He was previously president of ESPN since 2018.
Early life and education
[edit]Pitaro was raised in Scarsdale, New York.[1]
He graduated in 1987 from Edgemont Junior – Senior High School in Edgemont, New York.[2]
In 1991, he graduated from Cornell's College of Human Ecology in Ithaca, New York, with a Bachelor of Science degree in consumer economics and housing. He was a Cornell Big Red football player.
In 1994, he earned his Juris Doctor from St. John's University Law School in Jamaica, Queens.
Career
[edit]He previously worked for Yahoo's media division, Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker in New York and Disney Interactive in Glendale, California.[3]
On March 5, 2018, the Walt Disney Company announced that he would become president of ESPN Inc. including ABC.[4]
On October 12, 2020, he was named chairman of ESPN Sports Content.
On February 9, 2023, he was named chairman of ESPN.[5] Pitaro uses the principle of "Discuss. Debate. Decide. Align." in guiding the teams of employers he leads.[6]
Personal life
[edit]He and actress Jean Louisa Kelly have been married since May 24, 1997[7] and they have two children.[8]
References
[edit]- ↑ "1989 Football Roster:Jim Pitaro". Cornell University Athletics. Retrieved August 27, 2026.
- ↑ "Edgemont School Foundation Alumni Newsletter" (PDF). Edgemont Junior – Senior High School. Retrieved March 6, 2018.
- ↑ Gendler, Raphy; Silver, Zachary (March 5, 2018). "James Pitaro '91 Named President of Sports Media Giant ESPN". The Cornell Daily Sun. Retrieved March 5, 2018.
- ↑ "Disney exec Pitaro named new ESPN president". ESPN. March 5, 2018. Retrieved March 5, 2018.
- ↑ "James Pitaro". The Walt Disney Company. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
- ↑ Krechevsky, David (September 16, 2024). "After 6 years leading ESPN, Pitaro may be on deck to succeed Disney CEO; he's also trying to reshape the Bristol-based sports media company". Hartford Business Journal. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
- ↑ Kenyon, Sandy (January 20, 2023). "Actress Jean Louisa Kelly appearing in special show in New York City". KABC-TV. Retrieved May 19, 2025.
- ↑ Laura (July 8, 2006). "Actress Jean Louisa Kelly gives birth to second child – a daughter". People. Archived from the original on July 5, 2022. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
External links
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Owners: Walt Disney Company (via ABC Inc.) (72%); Hearst Communications (18%); National Football League (10%) | |||||||||||||||||||
 | This article about an American businessperson born in the 1960s is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by adding missing information. |
- 1969 births
- Living people
- American business executives
- Cornell Big Red football players
- Cornell University College of Human Ecology alumni
- ESPN executives
- Edgemont Junior – Senior High School alumni
- People from Scarsdale, New York
- Presidents of ESPN
- Sportspeople from Westchester County, New York
- St. John's University School of Law alumni
- American business biography, 1960s birth stubs
