USA: John Skipper resigns as president of sports-TV conglomerate ESPN, effective from 18/12/2017

The American John Skipper, 61 years old, has resigned as president of ESPN and co-chairman of Disney Media Networks, announced the American sports pay-TV and media conglomerate ESPN, owned by Disney, on 18/12/2017. John Skipper had been part of ESPN since 1997, and president since 01/01/2012.

"Today I have resigned from my duties as president of ESPN. I have had a wonderful career at the Walt Disney Company and am grateful for the many opportunities and friendships. I have struggled for many years with a substance addiction. I have decided that the most important thing I can do right now is to take care of my problem. I have disclosed this decision to the company, and we mutually agreed that it was appropriate that I resign," said John Skipper in a statement.

The American George Bodenheimer, 59 years old, president of ESPN from 1998 to 2011 and its executive chairman until May 2014, has been named the acting chair of ESPN for the next 90 days. George Bodenheimer will assist the Disney chairman and CEO Bob Iger in finding a new permanent president for the American sports media group.