Who is this guy?
After 43 years of contributing to ESPN’s growth at every stage of its development from scrappy upstart to clear industry leader, Chris LaPlaca left ESPN as the longest-tenured behind-the-scenes employee in the company’s history.
LaPlaca worked closely with every ESPN leadership team throughout his tenure, leading all aspects of ESPN’s global corporate communications since 2008. He sat at two leadership tables: ESPN’s and The Walt Disney Company’s corporate communications group, and worked in close collaboration with Disney’s investor relations team on matters involving ESPN.
He was the only senior leader to have been an instrumental contributor to every phase of ESPN’s unrelenting evolution. The lessons learned in Bristol and Burbank across four decades around innovation, leadership, change management, managing corporate and personal brands and more are readily transferable to leaders and businesses in any industry or academic enterprise. His leadership has been recognized with inductions into three Halls of Fame.
LaPlaca is recognized as an engaging storyteller and has been effective reaching big groups and small, including existing and emerging corporate leaders, university leaders in administration and athletics, undergraduate and masters students, student-athletes and more. His messages are brought to life with real-world anecdotes borne from 43 years of being “at the table” in a demanding, high-profile environment.
Areas of Expertise
Change Management
Strategic Communications
Corporate & Personal Brand
Executive Counsel & Mentoring
Crisis Management
Word on the Street
TROY AIKMAN
Super Bowl Champion
ESPN Monday Night Football Analyst
"Few people have seen the evolution of an industry the way Chris LaPlaca has. From ESPN’s earliest days to its rise as the global leader, Chris brings 43 years of unmatched insight into sports & leadership. His ability to blend humor with hard-earned wisdom makes him not only insightful but also highly engaging. Any organization would benefit from hearing his perspective."
ROBIN ROBERTS
Co-Anchor, Good Morning America
Former ESPN Anchor & Reporter
"It was an absolute joy working with Chris for more than a decade at ESPN. We’ve remained close friends and I’m in awe of all he has accomplished. His humor, integrity and authenticity all come to mind when I think of Chris. He’s a true gem and a heck of a storyteller."
JIMMY PITARO
Chairman, ESPN
The Walt Disney Company
"I had the very distinct pleasure of working with Chris LaPlaca directly for six years at ESPN. Chris brought unrivaled institutional and industry knowledge to his role every single day and we were much better because of it. He is that rare executive who has both high IQ and EQ, in addition to being a fantastic teammate. He is calm, thoughtful and an energy giver, even during times of crisis, and was a key figure in making ESPN what it is today. It would be hard for me to recommend an executive more highly than Chris."
DICK VITALE
Basketball Analyst
ESPN
"Chris was my colleague at ESPN for over four decades. He has so many stories to share as a keynote speaker, and his passion and energy are special. He’s a fantastic listen. Chris is absolutely AWESOME BABY!"
JOE BUCK
Play-by-Play Broadcaster
ESPN Monday Night Football
"After four decades at ESPN, Chris LaPlaca has seen and done it all in the media business. He helped with my transition from Fox to ESPN and navigated me through a couple of controversies with ease. He is thoughtful and carries a strong message. ESPN was lucky to have him."
STANLEY M. BERGMAN
"Chris is an outstanding speaker who brought valuable insights to the Henry Schein team during a Quarterly Management Meeting. His message on navigating complexity through cross-functional collaboration and relationship-building resonated deeply with the group. Highly recommended for any business seeking practical guidance on working across organizational boundaries."
TIM SHIPLEY
Highline Warren
"Chris was a hit at our national sales meeting. Our entire team, and meeting, enjoyed his presentation to the point that every following presenter made some connection to it. It goes back to the homework he did and the thoughtful connection to our content that made it special."
DR. JEFF GINGERICH
President
St. Bonaventure University
"Chris LaPlaca is a model of leadership integrity for us all. As a visiting professor and a valued partner in our leadership development programming at St. Bonaventure University, Chris has consistently challenged our campus community -students, faculty, and staff - to think more critically and intentionally about what it means to lead, not from a title, but from a mindset. His decades of experience in executive leadership - and his ability to communicate complex ideas with clarity, authenticity, and humility -leaves a lasting impression."
MARVIN LEWIS
Assistant VP & Director of Intercollegiate Athletics
George Mason University
"Chris LaPlaca’s visit to campus was a true highlight for our leadership team. His insights into leadership, communication, and managing change—drawn from decades of experience at ESPN—were both inspiring and actionable. Chris challenged us to think differently about how we lead, communicate, and adapt in a rapidly evolving athletics landscape. We’re incredibly grateful for his time, candor, and the wisdom he shared with our team."
ELIZABETH WINSLOW
Executive Director, Co-Curricular Learning
Tuck School of Business, Dartmouth University
"We here at the Tuck School of Business were fortunate to have Chris LaPlaca join us as a Visiting Executive. Chris was generous with his time, meeting with students both one-on-one and by offering a larger public talk. Students were inspired by his engaging personality and practical experiences in management and communications. Students hailed his candid attitude and experiences as refreshing and helpful in their own journeys of growth and education. One student wrote that Chris’s visit was, “Truly one of the highlights of (her) Tuck experience.”