Arne Rees

Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Velocity Capital Management

Speaker

Arne Rees began his career in the Venture Capital Investment Group of UBS working in their technology venture group. Arne subsequently spent six years as the Head of Strategic Business Development at UEFA, helping grow the EURO and Champions League brands’ global image. Subsequently, from 2006 through 2013, Arne was a senior executive at sports broadcasting network ESPN, a subsidiary of the Disney Corporation, where he held various positions including Chief of Staff to ESPN President George Bodenheimer, GM of International Digital Media, and Vice President of International Development, where he managed a team of 500 employees across 3 continents. In his various roles at ESPN, Arne managed a portfolio of domestic and international assets that included the X Games, Cricinfo, ESPNFC, Scrum.com, and ESPN.co.uk ($200 million in revenue) and led international strategy, growth and M&A.

After accumulating extensive operating expertise in his prior roles, Arne helped establish RSE Ventures, a private investment firm funded by Steve Ross, the owner of the NFL’s Miami Dolphins and the founder and chairman of Related Companies, a global real estate development firm. Arne joined the firm as a partner and Chief Operating Officer and worked closely with its joint venture partner, Vayner Media / RSE. Vayner Media is a social media focused digital agency controlled by Gary Vaynerchuk. Arne was a member of the investment team responsible for 11 investments across the sports, media, entertainment, consumer and technology verticals during his tenure at these two organizations.

Subsequently, Arne co-founded MSP, a fundless sponsor that invests in sports teams and other sports related assets, with Jahm Najafi (Vice Chairman of the Phoenix Suns) and Jeff Moorad (former CEO and Owner of the San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks). During his tenure at MSP, Arne was a member of the investment team responsible for investing approximately $350 million.

Prior to joining Velocity, Arne was the U.S. CEO of Sportradar, the leading global provider of products and services in the sports betting and entertainment space. Arne led strategy and growth across Sportradar’s US business, managing a team of 500 employees across the US. While at Sportradar, Arne restructured the Sportradar US business, grew revenues by 320% in 24 months, negotiated long term deals with the NBA, NHL and MLB and successfully lead the business through an IPO on the NASDAQ in September 2022.

Arne is currently the Honorary U.S. Chairman for Bundesliga.

Arne graduated with a Master of Arts and Diplomacy at the Fletcher School of Tufts University and received his MBA at École des Ponts Business School. Arne currently splits his time between NYC and Roxbury CT with his wife Caroline and his son Gabriel.