ESPN has a new president. Disney, which owns the Bristol-based sports cable giant, has named James Pitaro to the job.
Since 2016, Pitaro has been chairman of Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media. Pitaro succeeds John Skipper, who resigned in December after admitting to substance abuse problems.
Skipper had headed up ESPN since 2012.
In a release from the Disney Company, Pitaro describes himself as a "passionate and lifelong sports fan."
He comes to ESPN at a challenging time; its cable channels are losing viewership as more people cut the cord and go online for content.
The company has undergone a series of high profile layoffs, many in Connecticut, as it tries to recapture audience on its mobile platforms.
