Founder

Hank Ratner has more than three decades of experience holding top executive positions at leading sports, entertainment, media and technology companies. He currently serves as CEO of investment firm and strategic consulting practice Ratner Ventures, which has ownership interests in a broad portfolio of early stage and established global businesses, including ATP tennis tournaments in New York and Atlanta, sports-gaming app company WinView Games, Torque Esports, Frankly Media, the Longines Masters equestrian series in Paris, Hong Kong and Lausanne and the National Lacrosse League’s New York Riptide. Mr. Ratner sits on the Board of Directors of MSG Networks (NYSE: MSGN), Engine Media (TSX-V: GAME), the Garden of Dreams Foundation and GF Sports and Events. He is also on the Advisory Board of North Shore University Hospital and is an Executive in Residence at the Zarb School of Business at Hofstra University.

Mr. Ratner spent nearly 30 years at Cablevision Systems Corporation (Cablevision) and its affiliated companies until the sale of Cablevision to Altice in 2016. During that time, Mr. Ratner served as Vice Chairman of Cablevision, President and CEO of The Madison Square Garden Company (MSG) and Chief Operating Officer of AMC Networks (formerly Rainbow Media) where he helped lead each company through unprecedented periods of dynamic and enduring growth. From 2016 to 2018, Mr. Ratner served as President and CEO of Independent Sports and Entertainment, overseeing its transition from Relatively Sports into an integrated sports, media, entertainment and management company representing more than 300 NBA, NFL and MLB athletes.

Mr. Ratner was with MSG from 2003 to 2015 serving as President and CEO from 2009 to 2014 and Vice Chairman the rest of his tenure. While at MSG, Mr. Ratner managed some of the world’s most iconic venues and brands. The portfolio of properties included the legendary Madison Square Garden arena, The Theater at Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall, The Radio City Rockettes, the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, the Chicago Theater, the Wang Theater in Boston and professional sports teams the New York Knicks, New York Rangers, and New York Liberty. Mr. Ratner spearheaded MSG’s strategic initiatives and acquisitions, including bringing multiple venues such as the Beacon Theatre in New York City and The Forum in Inglewood under MSG management, and securing a ground-breaking marketing partnership with JPMorgan Chase as the company’s first-ever Marquee Partner. In addition, Mr. Ratner oversaw the historic $1 billion transformation of the iconic Madison Square Garden arena, served as alternate governor to the NBA and NHL on behalf of the Knicks and Rangers from 2003 to 2015 and helped create the Billy Joel franchise, a record setting residency at Madison Square Garden. Mr. Ratner also managed the company’s media portfolio, including MSG Network and MSG Plus, two of the nations largest and most award-winning regional sports and entertainment networks, and national music network Fuse.

As Vice Chairman for Cablevision from 2002 until 2016, Mr. Ratner worked closely with the executive team to help set corporate direction, and oversee major business partnerships and negotiations. Mr. Ratner helped guide the company through several strategic transactions, including the acquisition of MSG, securing significant partnerships in various cable networks with Liberty Media, NBC, Fox and MGM, and the spin-offs of MSG in 2010 and AMC Networks in 2011, both now standalone, public companies. Prior to serving as Vice Chairman of Cablevision, Mr. Ratner spent 15 years at AMC Networks in various positions including as Chief Operating Officer overseeing the operations of AMC, IFC, Bravo, WE tv, 10 Fox regional sports networks, two national sports networks, five News 12 regional news networks, Rainbow Advertising Sales Corporation, and IFC Films, among others.

Mr. Ratner was the founder of the Garden of Dreams Foundation, the nonprofit that works closely with all areas of MSG and MSG Networks to positively impact the lives of children facing obstacles. Since its inception in 2006, the Foundation has provided unforgettable experiences for over 375,000 children and their families, with access and interaction with events and celebrities at MSG and its properties. Mr. Ratner was Chairman from the Foundation’s inception in 2006 until 2014.

Mr. Ratner began his career as a corporate lawyer with the law firm Sullivan & Cromwell.