L to R: Mike Greenberg and Jimmy Pitaro
ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro has always been at the cutting edge of his field, recognized globally as a leader in sports media.
On Tuesday, April 30, he will be honored for his vision and contributions to sport and society with the inaugural Innovator of the Year Award, presented by StartUp Westport.
The event will be held at 6:30 pm in the Trefz Forum at The Westport Library. Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 at the door, with the net proceeds going to benefit the Library.
The StartUp Westport Innovator of the Year Award is an annual honor given to a member of the greater Westport community whose work exemplifies the ability to embrace opportunities, forward-looking ideas, or technologies that shape the future for the betterment of the lives of others. For its first edition, this “Big Show” for StartUp Westport will focus on Pitaro, a business leader responsible for the continued success of ESPN, an iconic brand that is always part of the national conversation.
ESPN sports personality and Westport resident Mike Greenberg will interview Pitaro about his accomplishments during the awards ceremony.
“We could not be more excited to present this award to Jimmy for his outstanding contributions to the greater Westport community and beyond,” said Cliff Sirlin, president of StartUp Westport. “ESPN brings joy and excitement into the homes of hundreds of millions of people around the globe every day. Jimmy’s dynamic leadership and groundbreaking initiatives make him a worthy recipient of this honor.”
Said Westport Library Executive Director Bill Harmer: “Jimmy Pitaro stands at the very pinnacle of his profession — someone who has indelibly changed how we consume sports as a society and who has shaped our culture in countless ways. We are thrilled to welcome him, and of course also the multi-talented Mike Greenberg, and to continue our collaboration with Startup Westport. Their partnership is invaluable, enhancing the fabric of Westport and its surrounding communities.”
Pitaro serves as the chairman of ESPN, a core business segment of The Walt Disney Company. His tenure at the worldwide leader in sports has been characterized by strategic advancements, innovative agreements, notable growth in ESPN’s digital and social presence, and a focus on audience expansion, solidifying his position as a visionary leader in the sports media landscape.
Pitaro, who has a BS in economics from Cornell University and a JD from St. John's University School of Law, has piloted ESPN to creative rights agreements with major entities like the NFL and UFC, expanded Disney's sports assets, achieved ratings success with shows like SportsCenter and ESPN's signature programs, and spearheaded the launch and growth of ESPN+, a multi-sport direct-to-consumer video service. He also is credited with identifying key business priorities — including innovation, storytelling, audience expansion, and direct-to-consumer strategies — and implementing a collaborative leadership style that resulted in impressive employee engagement and performance during challenging times.
In addition, Pitaro actively serves on various industry and charitable boards, showcasing his commitment to community engagement and industry development.
For his efforts, Pitaro was recognized by Sports Business Journal with inclusion in its prestigious “Forty Under 40” list for his dynamic leadership in sports and as its Sports Executive of the Year for 2019-20. He was also honored as the Multichannel News Sports Executive of the Year in 2018.
Greenberg is the host of the daily morning show Get Up, the NFL Draft, NBA Countdown, and his own ESPN radio program. He joined ESPN in 1996 as an anchor and subsequently served as one half of ESPN Radio’s Mike and Mike, one of the most successful sports radio programs in broadcast history. In 2016, Greenberg and his radio partner Mike Golic were inducted into the National Association of Broadcasters’ Broadcasting Hall of Fame, and Greenberg has also been inducted into Northwestern University’s Medill Hall of Achievement.
In addition, Greenberg is a New York Times best-selling author who has written two nonfiction books — Why My Wife Thinks I’m an Idiot (2007) and Mike & Mike’s Rules for Sports and Life — as well as two fiction volumes — All You Could Ask For (2013) and My Father’s Wives (2015).
The money raised at the April 30 event will go to support the Library’s annual programming initiatives. Over the past year, the Library has hosted more than 1,000 free programs, bringing together 85,000-plus individuals — three times Westport’s population. Overall, donations and fundraising account for more than 21% of the Library’s operating costs and go to support, programming, events, and other initiatives.
