John Skipper
Title: President, ESPN; Co-Chairman, Disney Media Networks
Years in Cable: 18 years at ESPN
Education: BA, North Carolina; MA, Columbia University

Best Advice in 7 Words or Less: Tweet less, eat more vegetables.

Ben Sherwood
Title: President, ABC/Disney Television Group; Co-Chairman, Disney Media Networks
Best Advice in Seven Words or Less: Live everything. Live the questions now.

It’s a tall order following in Anne Sweeney’s footsteps, but the insatiably curious Sherwood has proven himself more than up for the job since he stepped in to his new role in February. He can count turning ABC’s “Good Morning America” into a top-rated morning TV show as just one of his major accomplishments. At ESPN, Skipper navigated the network to mega ratings wins with its inaugural College Football Playoff system, the 2014 FIFA World Cup and record-breaking ESPN Digital numbers, to name just a few. Meanwhile, ESPN scored six long-term distribution agreements with major MVPDs—DirecTV, Dish, NTTC, NCTC, Suddenlink and Mediacom—while securing significant multiplatform programming deals with the NBA and MLS.

Skipper
I watch most programming on this device: The best available screen
What’s your favorite screen? As the cable pioneer Stephen Stills said, “Love the One You’re With.”
If Disney hired me to reboot “Star Wars” I would… Defer to the wise Alan Horn
Desert island album? Assuming there was good wireless, Spotify
My favorite business/motivational book: Dealings with the Firm of Dombey and Son: Wholesale, Retail and for Exportation by Charles Dickens

Sherwood
What’s your favorite screen? iPad
Twitter, Instagram or Snapchat? Twitter
Favorite vacation spot: Disney Parks & Resorts, of course
Favorite TV show as a kid?  “The Six Million Dollar Man”
My favorite business/motivational book: Different by Youngme Moon

 

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