Mike Raffensperger

Mike Raffensperger currently serves as the President of Sports at FanDuel Group, where he oversees the company’s sports business unit, including sports betting, daily fantasy sports, retail operations, free-to-play games, FanDuel TV, FanDuel Canada, and new ventures. In this role, he is responsible for developing strategies to capitalize on the emergence of legal online gaming, leading all revenue, marketing, partnership, and media functions within the company.

Bio

Career Path

Before joining FanDuel, Mike was the Head of Marketing for Amazon Advertising, where he led initiatives combining online video with e-commerce, contributing to Amazon’s significant growth in the advertising marketplace. Prior to that, he served as Director of Digital Marketing & Strategy for DIRECTV, overseeing digital marketing, communication, and commerce, including the launch of SundayTicket.TV, the first NFL streaming service.

Education and Academic Involvement

Mike holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Mass Media from Messiah College. He is also a standing fellow with Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism.

Achievements and Recognition

Throughout his career, Mike has been honored with multiple Webby Awards and a Sports Emmy Award nomination for his pioneering work in the early development of web television. He has also been recognized in Ad Age’s 40 Under 40, Sports Business Journal’s 40 Under 40, and Forbes’ CMO Next lists.

Professional Philosophy

Mike is known for his approach to marketing as a fundamental driver of growth. In an interview for Building Better CMOs, he emphasized that marketing should not be viewed as a cost center but as a key contributor to a company’s success, advocating for taking responsibility for growth to fully understand the true factors affecting a company’s bottom line.

Personal Life

Outside of his professional endeavors, Mike is a passionate and die-hard New York Giants fan.