JOHN J. RACZKA Entertainment Development / Licensing / Marketing
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JOHN J. RACZKA Unit 103-3401, 160 Central-ro, Yeonsu-gu Incheon, South Korea [email protected] Entertainment Development / Licensing / Marketing Casino & Other Location Based Entertainment / TV & Film / Interactive Entertainment Highly accomplished marketing, licensing and business development executive with a consistent record of success in driving revenue growth for organizations in the linear, interactive and location-based entertainment sectors worldwide. Able to draw on diverse background to expertly optimize consumer touch points and revenues by leveraging a wide array of delivery platforms, operation synergies, and strategic partnerships. Offers a unique blend of creative, strategic and entrepreneurial instincts. • Strategic Planning & Visioning • Partnership Building • International Protocol & Market Entry • Internal/External Branding & Identity • New Venture Development & Launch • Company Spokesperson • Full P&L Ownership • Team Building & Leadership PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE AUTUMN LIGHT ENTERTAINENT, Las Vegas, Nevada January 2017 – Present Provider of entertainment strategy, development and marketing consulting services. (www.autumnle.com) Managing Director: Provide consulting services in entertainment affairs to industry leading companies within the Location Based Entertainment arena, including Casino Integrated Resorts, Theme Park Developers, Ideation Design Agencies and Motion Picture Production Companies located in Asia, Dubai and the United States. Specialized focus in strategic planning, concept development, client representation, licensing and branding & identity. • Executive Consultant to Caesars Entertainment-South Korea/Dubai (April 2018 to Present) Projects include: - Develop entertainment ecosystem amenities, encompassing performance venues, attractions and public space activations for Caesars Korea, the company’s first casino resort in Asia - Oversaw physical build-out, manning and debut show launch of The Rotunda theatre at Caesars Palace Bluewaters Dubai, the company’s first non-gaming resort MELCO CROWN ENTERTAINMENT, Macau, China June, 2012 -- December, 2016 Vice President of Entertainment Development and Operations May, 2011 -- May, 2012 General Manager of Entertainment Marketing & Development June, 2010 -- April, 2011 Entertainment and Marketing Consultant A leading developer and operator of casino integrated resorts in Macau, China and Manila, Philippines. • Studio City Macau Developed integrated resort’s entertainment ecosystem plan and negotiated partnerships for Studio City’s entertainment attractions. Oversaw the development of world-class entertainment vehicles, including “Batman Dark Flight” Flying Theater, “The House of Magic” performance theatre and “WB Fun Zone” Family Entertainment Center, as well as a 5,000-seat arena, TV production studio and Pacha-branded nightclub from conceptual design through delivery. Managed the Programming, Events, Box Office and Customer Service Operations teams, totaling 242 associates. Developed pre- opening & launch department budget and manning plans for all ticketed entertainment amenities. Regularly interfaced with, and presented to, executive team, including the company’s COO and Chairman. Negotiated studio IP licenses, as well as third party design and project management agreements. Approved the booking of live touring shows and their marketing plans. Development: Managed design process of 5k-seat multipurpose entertainment center and adjoining 300-seat audience TV studio. Negotiated third party venue design and operations management agreements. Negotiated strategic partnership and oversaw development of the first dedicated magic theatre in Asia with renowned illusionist, Franz Harary. Licensing: Assessed and negotiated licensing rights for Flying Theater and Family Entertainment Center attractions, namely DC Comics, Looney Tunes and Hanna-Barbera characters, as well as for 2.4k sq. m. indoor/outdoor nightclub with Pacha of Ibiza, its first licensed club in Asia. Sourced and negotiated ride hardware and digital animation production work with leading service providers located in North America, Europe and Asia. • City of Dreams Manila, Manila Bay, Philippines Development: Developed new resort’s entertainment strategic plan and all related attraction development budgets. Assessed and negotiated library-wide licensing agreement with DreamWorks Animation for 5k sq. m. edutainment center, “DreamPlay,” DWA’s first such amenity in the world. Identified and negotiated operating management partnership for 2.4k sq. m. Night Club & Ultralounge with multinational club operator, Pangaea. Led design process for 150-seat in-the-round live performance venue located on casino floor. • City of Dreams Macau, Macau, China Marketing: Oversaw complete marketing campaign overhaul for Franco Dragone’s $250M USD stage production, “The House of Dancing Water,” beginning 8 weeks prior to the show’s debut, achieving 96% average show occupancy for first year of production. Operations: Developed “Splash at Hard Rock Hotel” pool party series in conjunction with MTV as the cable TV network’s first Macau-based programming initiative, incorporating world-leading DJ performances by the likes of Kaskade, Lil Jon, Benny Benassi, Eddie Halliwell and top MTV Asia VJ’s hosting 3 summer events for Pan-Asia distributed TV Special, “MTV Seen.” * Negotiated exclusive Mixed Martial Arts league alignment with Legend Fighting Championship (LegendFC), to co-produce and market the first MMA tournament series broadcast from Macau. * Managed staff of 58 associates, overseeing all Box Office, Customer Service and Events for the integrated resort. MACAO STUDIO CITY, Hong Kong, China May 2007−July 2009 A $2B hotel casino development project on the Cotai Strip in Macao, China, with an initial projected opening of first quarter, 2011. The company did not regain its financial footing from the global financial crisis and was dismantled, along with all commercial deals struck. Project’s land was subsequently acquired by Melco Crown Entertainment for its own Studio City resort development. General Manager of Entertainment & Advertising. Responsible for developing MSC’s entertainment strategic plan, leading partnership development efforts and managing advertising agency of record. • Negotiated co-production scripted television drama series with Sony Pictures Television International, a reality TV show series with MTV, on-premise TV network production studio tenancies with MTV and CETV and cinema multiplex joint venture LOI with UA Cinemas. AUTUMN LIGHT ENTERTAINMENT, Las Vegas, NV April 2003−April 2007 Provider of entertainment strategy, development and marketing consulting services. Managing Director. Clients and assignments included: • World Poker Exchange, St. Johns Antigua. Created and produced first true lifestyle poker tournament, the London Open 2005, which had the largest poker purse in the UK that year. Negotiated prime-time television special with Bravo UK and a $2.5M dollar multi-platform sponsorship program with FHM Magazine. Orchestrated all marketing components for the tournament, managing $2M media budget and selecting advertising, publicity and media agencies in the UK and US. Set new standards for live poker tournament events with lifestyle components and high-end tournament amenities, generating 31million media impressions from free press coverage and 9,664 new paying subscribers for the poker site sponsor. • ASTRO All Asia Networks, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Content: Published management report for satellite TV network operator, assessing interactive TV and cross-platform content opportunities based on industry trends and “best of class” applications appropriate for company’s demographic reach. Proposed menu of content applications that offered to increase company’s Average Return Per User rate, decrease subscriber churn and increase consumer loyalty across its satellite TV and Internet platforms. Infrastructure: Published formal reorganization plan for Multimedia Interactive Technology division at request of company’s Chairman, and was subsequently offered General Manager position for the company’s MIT unit (declined offer). • StarHub, Singapore. Content: Conducted thorough analysis of cable network operator’s linear and interactive content offerings, and published a senior management report identifying content genre weaknesses and cross- platform content opportunities. Produced content-related revenue projections for content menus supporting true Video On Demand vs. Near Video On Demand network infrastructures to help management assess platform investment options. Infrastructure: Created a centralized content management team infrastructure plan for the Triple Play company’s President to streamline content overhead requirements and to gain greater licensing strength among third-party content providers. The plan transformed the company’s three independent content teams (one per media platform) into a single, centralized unit, which supported all of StarHub’s delivery platforms (Cable TV, Wireless, Broadband). Was subsequently offered Head of Content position (declined offer). • After Dark Films, West Hollywood, CA. Developed and managed integrated marketing campaign for this independent feature film production company’s feature film, “An American Haunting,” starring Sissy Spacek and Donald Sutherland. BT OPENWORLD/BRITISH TELECOM, London, England August 1999−March 2003 Consumer Internet division of British Telecom. Senior Vice President Content. Responsible for managing central content