Jennifer Kirkwood serves as senior director of affiliate business operations responsible for the distribution of the Disney and ESPN networks to cable, satellite, and telco affiliates. In this role, she oversees blackouts, regionalization and market protection of live event programming as well as video on demand, pay per view, broadband and syndication distribution operations. She also oversees contract administration, affiliate billing and management reporting for the Disney and ESPN Media networks. Affiliate operations support ESPN’s US and International businesses. She is a member of the ESPN Mentor Advisory team which oversees mentor/protégé pairings for the company-wide mentoring program.
Kirkwood has served on the WICT New England Board of Directors in the roles of treasurer, vice president and president. Under her leadership the Chapter received WICT’s Chapter of the Year award for three consecutive years. In 2011 she was named the Chapter President of the Year. She is an alumna of WICT’s Betsy Magness Leadership Institute, Class XXI.
Outside of Kirkwood’s responsibilities at ESPN, she is passionate about cycling and helping to make a difference. She is a five-year participant in the Pan-Massachusetts Challenge, a 163-mile charity bicycle ride for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. She supports the ESPN Book Buddy program and other community initiatives. Kirkwood graduated from the Syracuse University S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications with a degree in television, radio and film production.
