James Dunn is a Vice President of Production, overseeing some of the network’s most prominent studio shows. A seasoned leader with over two decades of experience in sports media, Dunn has been instrumental in driving content innovation and viewership growth across multiple platforms.

In 2024, James Dunn was promoted to Vice President, expanding his oversight to include the weekday 2 p.m. ET edition of SportsCenter, Around The Horn, Pardon The Interruption, and the weekend editions of SportsCenter. In August 2025, his SportsCenter portfolio grew further with the addition of the weekday 7 a.m. edition.

Previously, Dunn served as coordinating producer for First Take, ESPN’s signature morning debate show featuring Stephen A. Smith and host Molly Qerim, a role he held from November 2021 to 2023. During his tenure, First Take achieved consistent viewership growth and successfully transitioned to a rotating co-host format alongside Smith and Qerim.

Before his leadership role on First Take, Dunn was a producer on ESPN+’s Stephen A’s World and the weekly SportsCenter with Stephen A. Smith. He also served as a manager for ESPN Next, the network’s leadership development program aimed at fostering young professionals and creating career growth opportunities.

Dunn originally joined ESPN in 2007, producing various shows for ESPN and ESPNEWS, including the launch of the live noon ET edition of SportsCenter in 2008. From 2012 to 2017, he worked in ESPN’s Charlotte office, leading content for ESPNU. During that time, he produced coverage of the College Football National Championship (2012–2016), studio shows across collegiate sports, and specials like National Signing Day.

From 2017 to 2018, Dunn served as a senior producer at NESN, where he led NESN Sports Today, NESN Sports Update, and the Boston Homegrown series, before returning to ESPN.

Dunn began his career in broadcasting as a video journalist for CNN in 1999. Over the next several years, he held roles of increasing responsibility, including production assistant, media manager, and sports producer. He also worked as a sports reporter for the local ABC affiliate in Macon, Ga., before transitioning fully to sports production.

A native of Georgia, Dunn graduated from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Arts in speech communication and rhetoric.

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