ESPN President Jimmy Pitaro clarified this week that he is not interested in succeeding Bob Iger as Disney CEO. He expressed his passion for sports and stated, “I’m in my dream job,” during a conversation with The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand. Further insights were shared by Marchand on Thursday’s episode of The Main Event podcast.
Marchand discussed what Pitaro might be considering: “Do you want to be at theme parks, or do you want to be at ballparks? He mentioned how much he loves overseeing ESPN, waking up with a clear mandate to succeed.” This sentiment was underscored by Marchand’s personal insight into Pitaro’s dedication as a huge Yankees fan, noting, “Of any executive I’ve covered in media, he’s the biggest baseball fan and Yankee supporter I’ve ever encountered.”
Marchand further elaborated on the distinction in job roles, mentioning the historical significance of the Disney CEO position. He reflected, “If I’m him, I’m looking at Disney and recognizing its track record of success. But are you stepping in after the [Derek] Jeter-Mariano [Rivera] era, only to inherit the Didi Gregorius years—who was a good player, but not a great one?”
CLIP: In reportedly dropping out of Disney CEO search, Jimmy Pitaro had to ask himself: Do you want to be at theme parks or ballparks.
POD 👇👇👇 pic.twitter.com/J5k0u1E8Mx
— Andrew Marchand (@AndrewMarchand) March 20, 2025
Disney shareholders are hopeful that the next CEO does not mirror Gregorius’ performance (career 95 OPS+). Potential successors within Disney include Chairperson of Parks and Resorts Josh D’Amaro, Co-Chair of Disney Entertainment Dana Walden, and executive Alan Bergman, who have all been identified as internal candidates.
Industry insiders speculate on various reasons behind Pitaro’s choice to remain at ESPN, citing upcoming initiatives like the forthcoming DTC launch and a potential equity deal with the NFL as significant opportunities. Ultimately, it could simply boil down to Pitaro’s love for sports and the Yankees, as he prefers the excitement of the ballpark over that of a theme park.
