ESPN Vice President of News David Kraft will retire in April after 30-year career
David Kraft, who has been a key newsroom leader at ESPN for 30 years, will retire from his post as Vice President of News in April.
Kraft was named to his current position in May of 2021, having previously served as the senior director and executive editor of ESPN’s news operations since October of 2015.
He said he and his wife, Meg, had been discussing retirement for several months. They ultimately made the decision so he could spend more time with his family and enjoy a slower pace of life.
“I’ve had a fantastic run with ESPN and am proud of what we’ve accomplished — and continue to accomplish on a daily basis — as a newsroom,” said Kraft. “Our journalism is in a great place and we have great people to carry it onward and upward. I very much appreciate the support I’ve gotten from our leadership team since I made this decision.”
He will stay on until April to help with the transition of his responsibilities.
He currently leads ESPN’s Universal News Group — made up of editors in newsrooms across the country — which gathers and distributes news and provides editorial guidance for every ESPN platform, including television, digital, audio, social and ESPN App alerts. He helped create the group 10 years ago.
Kraft’s career at ESPN began in 1996 as an editor of Olympics coverage for the then-ESPNetSportszone.com by Starwave. His started his sports journalism journey in 1985 at the San Luis Obispo County Telegram-Tribune. He is a journalism graduate of California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo.
“David Kraft has been a highly respected leader across ESPN’s editorial properties since he joined us in 1996,” said Burke Magnus, ESPN President, Content. “He never sought the spotlight but has had a strong and important impact behind the scenes and has played a major role in carrying on ESPN’s journalistic principles and practices for many years. We will miss him when he leaves us in April and wish him all the best in his retirement.”
