Staff Directory
Mike Verna
- Title:
- Chief Commercial Strategy Officer
- Email:
- Phone:
- 551-206-2708
Mike Verna serves as Chief Commercial Strategy Officer for Scarlet Knight Enterprises. Verna brings nearly two decades of experience developing and activating corporate partnerships, generating revenue and building relationships with some of the world’s most recognizable brands.
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In his role, Verna leads corporate partnership strategy, including overseeing sales, activation and operations. He is responsible for developing new business opportunities, strengthening and expanding existing partner relationships, creating innovative sponsorship platforms and helping drive significant new revenue for Rutgers Athletics.
Verna most recently served as Vice President of Partnership Marketing for the FIFA World Cup 26 New York New Jersey Host Committee, where he led the organization’s partnership operations. His responsibilities included developing partnership inventory and strategy, generating new revenue and overseeing sponsor activation. He also managed relationships and revenue opportunities with FIFA Global and Host City partners.
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Prior to joining the Host Committee, Verna served as Vice President of Partnership Management for the New York Islanders and UBS Arena. In that role, he led partnership management and activation, including contractual fulfillment, value creation and incremental revenue opportunities. He also oversaw partner hospitality strategy and worked closely with leading brands including UBS, American Express, Ford and Hyundai.
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Verna previously spent nearly 11 years at Madison Square Garden, rising from Manager of Account Activation to Vice President of Account Management. During his tenure, he managed and developed relationships with major corporate partners, including Chase, Verizon, Kia, Benjamin Moore and Amtrak. He also led partnership activation across MSG’s portfolio of properties and events, identifying opportunities to grow revenue while delivering integrated assets across signage, promotions, digital and social media, hospitality and other platforms.
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Verna began his career in sports partnerships with the Brooklyn Nets and Barclays Center, where he managed national and regional marketing partners and helped guide sponsors through the franchise’s transition from New Jersey to Brooklyn and the opening of Barclays Center. His responsibilities included partner activation across signage, broadcast, print, social media and in-market promotions.
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Throughout his career, Verna has built a reputation as a collaborative, relationship-driven leader who combines strategic thinking with hands-on execution. A New Jersey resident, Verna graduated magna cum laude from St. John’s University in 2002 and currently serves as a member of the university’s Sports Management Advisory Board.
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In his role, Verna leads corporate partnership strategy, including overseeing sales, activation and operations. He is responsible for developing new business opportunities, strengthening and expanding existing partner relationships, creating innovative sponsorship platforms and helping drive significant new revenue for Rutgers Athletics.
Verna most recently served as Vice President of Partnership Marketing for the FIFA World Cup 26 New York New Jersey Host Committee, where he led the organization’s partnership operations. His responsibilities included developing partnership inventory and strategy, generating new revenue and overseeing sponsor activation. He also managed relationships and revenue opportunities with FIFA Global and Host City partners.
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Prior to joining the Host Committee, Verna served as Vice President of Partnership Management for the New York Islanders and UBS Arena. In that role, he led partnership management and activation, including contractual fulfillment, value creation and incremental revenue opportunities. He also oversaw partner hospitality strategy and worked closely with leading brands including UBS, American Express, Ford and Hyundai.
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Verna previously spent nearly 11 years at Madison Square Garden, rising from Manager of Account Activation to Vice President of Account Management. During his tenure, he managed and developed relationships with major corporate partners, including Chase, Verizon, Kia, Benjamin Moore and Amtrak. He also led partnership activation across MSG’s portfolio of properties and events, identifying opportunities to grow revenue while delivering integrated assets across signage, promotions, digital and social media, hospitality and other platforms.
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Verna began his career in sports partnerships with the Brooklyn Nets and Barclays Center, where he managed national and regional marketing partners and helped guide sponsors through the franchise’s transition from New Jersey to Brooklyn and the opening of Barclays Center. His responsibilities included partner activation across signage, broadcast, print, social media and in-market promotions.
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Throughout his career, Verna has built a reputation as a collaborative, relationship-driven leader who combines strategic thinking with hands-on execution. A New Jersey resident, Verna graduated magna cum laude from St. John’s University in 2002 and currently serves as a member of the university’s Sports Management Advisory Board.
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