Burkhardt, who has led ESPN's international arm since 1999 after joining the firm two years previously, will leave the company later this month to pursue other personal and professional interests.
Going forward, Burkhardt's role heading up ESPN International has been handed to Russell Wolff who will step up from his current position as senior vice president to take the post of managing director.
During Burkhardt's tenure at ESPN International, he headed up a number of initiatives including the global expansion of the SportsCenter franchise and the growth of the company's Asian joint venture ESPN Star Sports. Burkhardt will continue to act as a consultant with ESPN until the end of 2002.
Said Burkhardt: "It has been an exciting five years. I am extremely proud of all that our ESPN International team has achieved and of the growth potential for the future."
For his part, Wolff will assume full responsibility for all of ESPN's international businesses, which include partial or whole ownership of 24 networks televised outside of the US to more than 150 countries.
ESPN International has lost its renowned executive vice president after Willy Burkhardt announced his resignation from the post.
