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Gerry Cardinale

Founder & Managing Partner

RedBird Capital Partners

New York, NY, USA

Gerry Cardinale

McKinsey & Company

Gerry’s Biography

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Gerry Cardinale is the Founder & Managing Partner of RedBird Capital Partners.

Founded in 2014, RedBird Capital Partners is a private investment firm focused on building high-growth companies alongside entrepreneurs in its four areas of domain expertise: sports, media, consumer and financial services. To date, RedBird manages over $6 billion of capital on behalf of a highly curated group of blue-chip global institutional and family office investors. RedBird’s network of entrepreneurs is central to its investment sourcing and company-building strategy that helps founders achieve their business objectives and long-term vision. Since inception, RedBird has invested in over 30 platform companies and 80 add on acquisitions with total enterprise value exceeding $30 billion.

Prior to founding RedBird, Gerry spent 20 years at Goldman Sachs, serving as a Partner of the firm and a senior leader of the Merchant Bank's private equity investing business, which managed over $100 billion of private capital investments across equity, debt, real estate and infrastructure investment strategies.... Gerry Cardinale is the Founder & Managing Partner of RedBird Capital Partners.

Founded in 2014, RedBird Capital Partners is a private investment firm focused on building high-growth companies alongside entrepreneurs in its four areas of domain expertise: sports, media, consumer and financial services. To date, RedBird manages over $6 billion of capital on behalf of a highly curated group of blue-chip global institutional and family office investors. RedBird’s network of entrepreneurs is central to its investment sourcing and company-building strategy that helps founders achieve their business objectives and long-term vision. Since inception, RedBird has invested in over 30 platform companies and 80 add on acquisitions with total enterprise value exceeding $30 billion.

Prior to founding RedBird, Gerry spent 20 years at Goldman Sachs, serving as a Partner of the firm and a senior leader of the Merchant Bank's private equity investing business, which managed over $100 billion of private capital investments across equity, debt, real estate and infrastructure investment strategies.

During his tenure, Gerry worked with entrepreneurs and family business owners to build several successful multi-billion-dollar platform companies, including the Yankees Entertainment & Sports ("YES") Network, Legends Hospitality, and Suddenlink Communications.

Gerry currently sits on several boards across the RedBird investment portfolio, including Aethon United, Compass Datacenters, OneTeam Partners, RedBird FC, RedBird QSR, Skydance Media, TierPoint, the Yankees Entertainment & Sports (“YES”) Network, and Zenith Shipping.

Philanthropically, Gerry is a Trustee of the Mount Sinai Health System in New York City and leads one of the multi-state Selection Committees that awards Rhodes Scholarships. moreless

Gerry’s Newsfeed

NFL

NFL, RedBird Capital Partners form new venture to deliver Sunday Ticket to commercial establishments

The NFL and RedBird Capital Partners announced the formation of EverPass Media, a new media platform that will hold the exclusive rights to distribute NFL Sunday Ticket to bars, restaurants, hotels and other commercial venues in the U.S. starting with the 2023 NFL season.

Sportico

With ‘Air,’ Gerry Cardinale is Ready for His Close-Up

The first title to premiere under Affleck and Damon’s RedBird-backed Artists Equity banner, Air chronicles the origin of Nike's Air Jordan shoeline.

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Gerry’s Background

RedBird Capital Partners

Founder & Managing Partner

Jul 2013 - Present

New York, NY, USA

RedBird Capital Partners is a private investment firm focused on building high-growth companies alongside entrepreneurs in its four areas of domain expertise: sports, media, consumer and financial services. To date, RedBird manages over $6B of capital on behalf of a highly curated group of blue-chip global institutional and family office investors.

Goldman Sachs

Partner

Aug 1992 - Dec 2012

New York, NY, USA

Goldman Sachs is a global financial services company that focuses on the areas of investment banking, investment management and securities.

Gerry’s Gallery

Gerry Cardinale of Redbird Capital Partners speaking at a SPAC and private equity event

Gerry Cardinale of Redbird Capital Partners giving an interview about SPACs, XFL and private equity

Gerry Cardinale of Redbird Capital Partners sharing his thoughts about SPACs, XFL, Liverpool and Fenway Sports Group

Gerry Cardinale of Redbird Capital Partners speaking in his office about recent SPAC activity, Fenway Sports Group and the XFL

Gerry Cardinale of Redbird Capital Partners being interviewed about SPACs, XFL, Liverpool and Fenway Sports Group

Gerry Cardinale of Redbird Capital Partners having a discussion about SPACs, XFL, Liverpool and Fenway Sports Group

Current Board Positions

RedBird FC

Board of Directors

2020 - Present

Toulouse, FR

RedBird FC is a European football and analytics platform. Through this platform, RedBird deploys operating expertise and a data-analytics strategy in partnership with some of the top analytics-focused executives in sport. In July 2020, RedBird FC acquired control of Toulouse FC, a football club in Toulouse, France.

OneTeam Partners

Board of Directors

2019 - Present

Washington, DC, USA

OneTeam Partners is a partnership with the Players Associations of the National Football League (NFL) and Major League Baseball (MLB). Its focus is on monetizing the Name, Image and Likeness (“NIL”) of each league's athletes.

Skydance Media

Board of Directors

2019 - Present

Santa Monica, CA, USA

Skydance Media is a production studio focused on feature film, animation, subscription video on demand, and interactive gaming.

RedBird QSR

Board of Directors

2018 - Present

New York, NY, USA

RedBird QSR is a diversified quick-serve restaurant platform. It operates a range of businesses, primarily burger, chicken, taco and pizza franchises.

Compass Datacenters

Board of Directors

2016 - Present

Dallas, TX, USA

Compass Datacenters is a developer and owner of wholesale build-to-suit data centers. Compass serves hyperscale cloud, software and enterprise customers.

Aethon United

Board of Directors

2015 - Present

Haynesville, TX, USA

Aethon is one of the largest independent, privately held upstream and midstream natural gas producers in the Haynesville area.

Zenith Shipping

Board of Directors

2015 - Present

New York, NY, USA

Zenith Shipping is a portfolio of product tankers and dry bulk shipping vessels.

TierPoint

Board of Directors

2014 - Present

St. Louis, MO, USA

TierPoint is a leading data center operator and provider of IT infrastructure services operating over 40 locations in the US. Its focus is hybrid cloud solutions, managed services and retail colocation.

Yankees Entertainment & Sports (YES) Network

Board of Directors

2001 - Present

New York, NY, USA

The YES Network is the #1 Regional Sports Network in the US. It holds the exclusive local media rights of the 27-time World Champion New York Yankees, the Brooklyn Nets, Major League Soccer’s New York City FC, and the WNBA’s New York Liberty

Yankee Global Enterprises

Board of Directors

2001 - Present

New York, NY, USA

Yankee Global Enterprises is the corporate holding company of the New York Yankees and its affiliated businesses

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Philanthropy

Rhodes Trust

Selection Committee

Oxford, UK

The Rhodes Scholarship was first awarded in 1902 and is the oldest, and one of the most prestigious, international scholarship programmes. It enables outstanding young people from all around the world to study at the University of Oxford.

Mount Sinai Health System

Board of Trustees

New York, NY, USA

The Mount Sinai Health System is a healthcare network that consists of eight campuses based in the New York Metropolitan area. It was established in 2013 as a collaborative effort between Mount Sinai Medical Center and Continuum Health Partners.

Media

How Gerry Cardinale became the go-to dealmaker for the likes of the Yankees, AC Milan & Ben Affleck

Dec 2022

New York, NY, USA

Gerry Cardinale and his peers reveal the winning playbook for his $7.5 billion firm, RedBird Capital Partners.

Ben Affleck and Matt Damon to Start Film Production Company

Nov 2022

New York, NY, USA

Ben Affleck and Matt Damon plan to start an independent production company, called Artists Equity, and have obtained a minimum of $100 million in financing from the investment firm RedBird Capital Partners.

New York Yankees Investing in AC Milan as Part of RedBird Ownership Group

Aug 2022

RedBird founder Gerry Cardinale said the new ownership group's focus is to maintain "Milan's place at the summit of European and world football".

AC Milan’s new owners bet they can top miracle season

Jun 2022

London, UK

Gerry Cardinale sees continued success ahead for AC Milan, Redbird's recent acquisition.

XFL announces exclusive multi-year broadcast agreement with the Walt Disney Company and ESPN

May 2022

The XFL announced a new, global multi-year agreement with The Walt Disney Company and ESPN, which includes exclusive broadcast rights for all gameday content, tentpole events and more, for its upcoming 2023 season through 2027.

Fenway Sports Group Closes Deal with Redbird and Lebron James

Mar 2021

New York, NY, USA

The Fenway Sports Group announced Wednesday “a significant investment in the Group by RedBird Capital Partners,” who are joined in the venture by LeBron James and Maverick Carter. The investment by RedBird into FSG is based on an enterprise valuation for FSG of $7.35 billion. RedBird is headed by founder and managing partner Gerry Cardinale.

Sportico Live: Business Beyond the Game

Panel Discussion

Dec 2020

For this Sportico Live event, Alex Rodriguez and Gerry Cardinale have a discussion with Sportico's Scott Soshnick about ARod's attempt to buy the Mets and Gerry's advice to the next generation of young entrepreneurs.

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Interviews

RedBird Capital Partners’ Cardinale on Investing in Sports

Apr 2022

New York, NY, USA

In this interview with Bloomberg, Gerry Cardinale discusses his experiences investing in sports.

Are You Not Entertained?: Gerry Cardinale

Dec 2021

New York, NY, USA

Gerry Cardinale joins the Are You Not Entertained podcast to discuss Redbird's portfolio of global investments in sports, including those in professional sports leagues and sports content & technology, sports financing, and his view of where the sports world is heading in 2022.

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Awards & Recognition

Most Influential: Dealmakers & Disrupters

Honoree

2022

Gerry Cardinale was recognized for RedBird's recent acquisition of AC Milan, relaunching the XFL, and other sport-related deals and acquisitions.

Inc.'s 2020 PE 50

Honoree

2020

New York, NY, USA

Redbird Capital Partners was named one of the 50 Best Private Equity Firms for Entrepreneurs in Inc. magazine's annual list. This list recognizes PE Firms that support founder-led companies as they grow and find their place in the marketplace.

The People Who Influenced Sports Business In 2020

Honoree

2020

Gerry Cardinale, Founder and Managing Partner of RedBird Capital Partners, was honored as the most influential businessperson in the Sponsors & Dealmakers category. SBJ highlighted Redbird's recent acquisition of the XFL with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Dany Garcia and the firm's 85% stake in French soccer club Toulouse FC.

Variety 500

Gerry Cardinale was recognised by Variety500 as one of most influential business leaders shaping the global media industry in 2020.

Chief Investment Officer, Asset Management & Servicing

Winner 2019

RedBird Capital Partners was recognized for its unique structure which allows for a longer buy-and-hold strategy, than other private equity firms.

Forbes

Top 50 Dealmakers (Private Equity)

2012

New York, NY, USA

The Forbes Top 50 Dealmakers list focuses on fund performance, exits, and recent success in raising money instead of raw fund size.

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Speaking Engagements

MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference

Panel member

Mar 2023

Boston, MA, USA

Gerry Cardinale took part in a panel titled 'Investing in Global Sports: Creating Value While Building Dynasties'. The panel covered a range of topics, including the recent boom in global investments in sports teams, record franchise and club sales in the NFL, NBA and Premier League, and more.

The New York Times DealBook Summit

Dec 2022

New York, NY, USA

Ben Affleck and Gerry Cardinale discussed their new studio venture, Artists Equity. Their goal is to reimagine the relationships between studios, artists and crews working in the entertainment industry.

Sportico Live

Featured Speaker

Aug 2020

Gerry Cardinale of RedBird Capital joined this Sportico online event to discuss NFL Valuations. The event was held in conjunction with the release of the Sportico's first NFL Valuations Report and featured some of the NFL’s most accomplished executives on the business of football.

2020 MIT Sloane Sports Analytics Conference

Panel Member

Boston, MA, USA

Gerry Cardinal, Saquon Barkley and other panelists discuss the passage of California’s Fair Pay to Play Act.

Leaders: The Sport Business Summit

Panel Member

2020

Abu Dhabi, AE

RedBird Capital's Gerry Cardinale participated on a panel titled "Financing the Future: How Sport's Next Decade Will Be Funded" at the 2020 Leaders in Sports Business Summit in Abu Dhabi.

Bloomberg Business of Sports Podcast

Guest Speaker

May 2018

New York, NY, USA

Managing Partner of RedBird Capital, Gerry Cardinale covers a broad array of topics, including his pivotal role in establishing the YES network and Legends Hospitality, controlled by the New York Yankees and Dallas Cowboys. He also touches upon team valuations and the best investment options in professional sports.

2018 MIT Sloane Sports Analytics Conference

Panel Member

Boston, MA, USA

Gerry Cardinale participated on a panel at SSAC18 titled 'Nothing But Net (Present Value): Investing and Innovation in Sports'.

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Gerry’s Education

University of Oxford

Rhodes Scholar, M.Phil in Politics & Political Theory

1989 - 1991

Harvard University

AB with Honors, magna cum laude

1985 - 1989