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Today, ESPN president of content Burke Magnus revealed a new restructure in a memo to employees, resulting in leadership changes as well as job cuts.
With ESPN looking to better align its business practices in the shifting TV and streaming landscape, Magnus noted that the company had been working since May on a “plan to restructure our department to improve collaboration, centralize functions, create better alignment, and redeploy resources to areas of growth.”
The reorg involved conversations with nearly 75 ESPN leaders at all levels, according to Magnus.
“With these moves, I believe we will be more strategic, collaborative, and nimble, as we continue to excel in every area and function,” Magnus wrote. “We remain committed to employee development, and the restructure will result in new positions or promotions for people who are expanding their responsibilities or taking on new challenges.”
Among the highlights, Mike McQuade will lead a new sports production team and has been promoted to evp, sports production. The 37-year ESPN employee has numerous accomplishments, including producing coverage for tennis, NHL, boxing, golf, and SportsCenter with Scott Van Pelt, a program he helped create. McQuade’s new team will have oversight of production and studio shows that are sport-specific, and the exec will relocate to ESPN’s home office in Bristol, Connecticut.
“In addition to his extensive production background, Mike is well known for his storytelling ability across platforms, innovative mindset, attention to detail, and his tireless push to deliver results,” Magnus said.
Other leadership changes include David Roberts leading the sports news and entertainment team, which will look to integrate and centralize cross-platform editorial and news coverage, including non-sport-specific studio shows such as SportsCenter, First Take, Get Up, The Pat McAfee show, and PTI.
In addition, the company will look to streamline and centralize digital, social, and streaming under Kaitee Daley; align its international production team, ESPN Deportes and international editorial teams, and business operations for international under Freddy Rolón; and divide its stats and information group into research and ESPN stats and analysis.
According to Magnus, research will support storytelling functions and better aligns with the news and entertainment group, led by Maria Soares, under David Roberts. Meanwhile, stats and analysis will be utilized for digital strategy and move to the digital, social, and streaming content team under Daley and specifically under Nicole Pelaez-Dandrea.