Chris Laplaca — Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications at ESPN

Mr. Chris Laplaca has been Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications of ESPN, Inc. since June 2008. Mr. LaPlaca is responsible for the ESPN's worldwide internal, public and media relations strategies, including oversight of consumer, corporate and employee communications for ESPN's 50 business units. He also oversees the ESPN's day-to-day working relationship with The Walt Disney its corporate communications and investor relations groups. Mr. LaPlaca, a 32-year veteran of ESPN, had been senior vice president, communications (2006-08), overseeing public and media relations. He was senior vice president, consumer communications (from 2003 to 2006), overseeing consumer media and public relations efforts for domestic services ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNEWS, ESPN Classic, ESPN and ESPN2 HD, ESPN.com, ESPN The Magazine, ESPN Radio, Mobile ESPN, and several other brand extensions. He is based in ESPN'sBristol,Conn. headquarters. He joined the network in July 1980 as a communications representative. He was promoted to manager, programming information in April 1984, to director, communications in May 1985, and to vice president in January 1990. Prior to joining ESPN, he worked for one year (1979-80) as assistant sports information director at BrownUniversity. He was honored by his alma mater in 1995 with theJandoliSchool's Alumnus of the Year Award, given to a graduate who exemplifies the highest professional standards and for service to the journalism program at St. Bonaventure. In April 2003, Mr. LaPlaca became the seventh alum in the program's 54-year history to be inducted onto the J/MC school's 'wall of fame,' which includes five Pulitzer Prize winners. He is active within the industry and the community. He has served on several industry programming boards, and the boards of severalBristolorConnecticutcommunity organizations, including theUnited WayandBristol's Chamber of Commerce. In 2003, he was awarded the Fred Soliani Award for his overall contributions to Bristol's Caring About People program, which provides mentors to 'at risk' children in need of positive role models. He received a bachelor of arts degree in journalism/mass communication from St. Bonaventure University in 1979, and remains active in support of the University's Russell J. Jandoli School of Journalism and Mass Communication.