Chris LaPlaca

 
Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications

Chris LaPlaca

Chris LaPlaca was named ESPN, Inc.’s senior vice president, corporate communications in June 2008.  He is responsible for the Company’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 company’s day-to-day working relationship with The Walt Disney Company’s corporate communications and investor relations groups.

LaPlaca, a 30-year veteran of ESPN, had been senior vice president, communications (2006-08), overseeing public and media relations.  Prior to that he was senior vice president, consumer communications (2003-06), overseeing consumer media and public relations efforts for the company’s domestic services, including 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's Bristol, Conn. headquarters. 

LaPlaca joined the company 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, LaPlaca worked for one year (1979‑80) as assistant sports information director at Brown University.

LaPlaca 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.

ESPN’s Communications team has earned many accolades over the years, including PR Week’s “Team of the Year” for large corporations in 2005.

LaPlaca was honored by his alma mater in 1995 with the Jandoli School’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, 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.  

LaPlaca is active within the industry and the community.  He has served on several industry programming boards, and the boards of several Bristol or Connecticut community organizations, including the United Way and Bristol’s Chamber of Commerce.   In 2003, LaPlaca 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. 

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