Career
With a focus on holistic team-building, Michael Capiraso's dynamic, strategic approach to sustainable growth has earned him name brand recognition across sports, entertainment, and consumer goods. CEO & President of New York Road Runners (NYRR) to help organize the TCS NYC Marathon, Capiraso contributed his skills to brands like the NFL, Major League Baseball, Cole Haan, WPP, and Calvin Klein.
A key to Michael Capiraso's strategic approach: Innovative marketing, embracing cutting edge technology, and putting the focus on acquisition, organic growth, and diverse, collaborative leadership within his teams.
At NYRR, Michael saw annual revenue nearly doubling to more than $100,000,000, with the number of NYRR event participants doubling to around 700,000 people in youth and community programming. Michael helped to establish multi-year partnerships with New Balance and TCS, as well as Trust for Public Land in NYC, helping to build playgrounds for kids in underserved communities.
As President & CEO, and as a board member, Michael has helped to nurture a culture of professionalism and efficiency at NYRR, diversifying revenue streams, reducing expenses, and overseeing vital restructuring. Today, NYRR stands firmly as the largest Marathon in the world, and America's premier participatory sports organization, boasting the highest revenue, the broadest membership, and an endless list of industry accolades.
Michael has participated in 28 consecutive New York City Marathons, personally raising more than $100,000 for NYRR's Team for Kids.
At Cole Haan, Michael served as Chief Marketing Officer, leading marketing, strategy, digital, creative, and brand development. Here he developed a five-year multi-channel growth plan to double the brand's revenue, building on the synergies Cole Haan shared with parent company Nike and bringing the company into the modern era with their first social media marketing campaign.
Michael held the position of North American CEO for WPP's Prism, a strategic marketing agency working with AT&T, Coca-Cola, and the PGA. At the NFL, he worked with Commissioners Tagliabue and Goodell as Vice President of Marketing and Executive Creative Director, leading the organization's 360-degree rebranding strategy and driving $330 million in sponsor revenue for Super Bowl XL.