President of ESPN and co-chairman of the Disney Media Networks John Skipper resigned on Monday citing substance addiction. President of the company since 2012, Skipper recently signed a contract extension through 2021.
While Disney chairman and chief executive Bob Iger seeks a replacement, George Bodenheimer, ESPN’s president from 1998 to 2011 and its executive chairman until May 2014, will take the reins for the next 90 days as acting chairman of the company.
Skipper, 61, didn’t offer any details of the nature of his substance abuse problem, but in a statement said, “I come to this public disclosure with embarrassment, trepidation and a feeling of having let others I care about down.” He continued, “As I deal with this issue and what it means to me and my family, I ask for appropriate privacy and a little understanding.”
To many at ESPN the announcement came as a quite a surprise after his recent contact extension. He had been trying to get the company back on track and pave the way forward amidst a rapidly decreasing number of cable subscribers and a declining interest in professional sports. Not to mention his help would have been instrumental in helping Disney integrate the various Fox sports assets they will be acquiring.
Bob Iger, chairman and CEO of the Walt Disney Company, the parent company of ESPN, said he would join Skipper’s “many friends and colleagues across the company in wishing him well during this challenging time.”