April 22 (Reuters) - Disney Entertainment and ESPN ( DIS ) Chief

Technology Officer Aaron LaBerge would step down from the

position and join gaming and sports media firm Penn

Entertainment ( PENN ), according to a memo seen by Reuters on

Monday.

LaBerge, who has spent more than 20 years at Walt Disney Co ( DIS )

, will assume a similar role at Penn, effective July 1.

"This was a personal decision, driven by the needs of my

family," according to his letter attached with the memo.

Walt Disney's ( DIS ) ESPN ( DIS ) and Penn had agreed in August last year

to jointly launch a sports betting business under the brand ESPN

BET.

"I plan to use my experience from Disney ( DIS ) and ESPN ( DIS ) to help

make ESPN BET an essential piece of the sports fan experience,"

LaBerge was quoted as saying in a separate press release from

Penn.

According to the memo, Chris Lawson, EVP content platforms

and operations at Disney Entertainment and ESPN ( DIS ), would serve as

the interim tech executive while the company looks for a

permanent replacement for LaBerge.