(Josh Krulewitz/ESPN)
WASHINGTON — This afternoon, ESPN Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications, Chris LaPlaca was inducted into the “PR People Hall of Fame” at the PR News PR People Awards Luncheon. Hosted at the National Press Club, this event celebrates individuals who set benchmarks of excellence in public relations. Along with LaPlaca, Karen van Bergen (Porter Novelli), Margery Kraus (APCO Worldwide) and Bob Pearson (W20 Group) were also inducted.
In his acceptance speech, LaPlaca emphasized the need for “professional curiosity,” a message he conveys to people he mentors as well as colleagues in the media industry.
“Chris is the consummate communications professional, always on the cutting edge of communications strategies during his remarkable 35-plus-year career,” said ESPN Executive Vice President, Administration, Ed Durso. “Any organization would be lucky to have him and ESPN – for certain – continues to benefit from his tenacity, passion and top knowledge of what PR practices work.”
LaPlaca joined ESPN in 1980 as a communications representative. Since 2008, LaPlaca has served as the Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications. In this role, he is responsible for ESPN’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 relationship with The Walt Disney Company’s corporate communications and investor relations groups.
