About Michael Capiraso
Throughout his career, Michael Capiraso has worked in multiple industries, including entertainment, sports, consumer products, and media. He has worked with high-profile companies like the NFL, MLB, Calvin Klein, and Cole Haan. In each role, he has demonstrated his unique capabilities and helped to drive progress within his sphere of influence.
Most recently, Michael served as the CEO and President of New York Road Runners, the premier running participatory organization known for organizing the annual New York City Marathon. With 53,000 finishers, the marathon is the largest in the world, drawing millions of viewers in-person and via global broadcast and raising millions of dollars for charities. With such a massive event to organize, Michael drove impressive results during his years at NYRR. He doubled the organization’s revenue to $100 million, created an NYRR profitable Virtual Racing business in partnership with Strava, initiated philanthropic initiatives, and more. He was dedicated to developing a high-performing team and increasing professionalism throughout the organization.
One of the things that helped Michael Capiraso succeed with NYRR was his passion and personal investment in the organization. As a dedicated runner who has participated in 28 New York City Marathons, he came into the role already profoundly familiar with the organization and with a unique vision for how it could continue to grow and increase its impact.
Prior to working with NYRR, Michael was the Chief Marketing Officer for Cole Haan. He led the marketing, strategy, creative, and brand development efforts during his time there and was instrumental in crafting a strategic five-year plan to double revenue.
Michael attended Fairleigh Dickinson University for his Bachelor of Science and MBA. Throughout his career, he has been recognized for his achievements in multiple ways. He received the Profile in Excellence Award from the NYU Sports Business Society Awards and was listed among the Top 100 Corporate Social Responsibility by City & State New York. In running the NYC marathon, he also raised over $100,000 for Team for Kids to support community health youth programming and events.
Outside of his professional life, Michael Capiraso is a strong advocate for the benefits of exercise. He is a lifelong runner who loves learning more about health and fitness and living a lifestyle centered on these values. Additionally, Michael has been practicing Transcendental Meditation since 2023. Transcendental Meditation is known to significantly improve mental health by reducing stress, anxiety, and depression. It promotes relaxation, enhances focus, and fosters a sense of inner peace and well-being, leading to overall better mental health.
In April 2024, Michael was named the Interim Board Chairman at Still I Run, an esteemed non-profit at the national level dedicated to promoting running as a method for improving mental health. In his role, he aims to actively support the group’s objective of positively impacting individuals facing mental health challenges. His connection with Still I Run is rooted in his journey, which aligns closely with the organization’s aims. He has recently taken a role on the Advisory Board for Fan4Kids. Fan4Kids is a non-profit organization that was formed in 2004 in response to the growing rate of childhood obesity, its related health concerns, and the lack of coordinated and simple solutions to the growing problem.
You can learn more about Michael Capiraso at MichaelCapiraso.net or MichaelCapiraso.org.
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