Gerald Raines
About Gerald Raines
Gerald Raines is the Global Head of Event Operations at the NBA and a member of the Customer Advisory Board at Avis Budget Group. He has extensive experience in business development across various industries, including sports, media, entertainment, and travel & leisure.
Title
Gerald Raines holds the position of Global Head of Event Operations at the National Basketball Association (NBA) since 2023. In addition, he serves on the Customer Advisory Board at Avis Budget Group.
Current Roles at NBA and Avis Budget Group
Gerald Raines is currently engaged with the National Basketball Association (NBA) as the Global Head of Event Operations. He started this role in 2023. Concurrently, he serves as a member of the Customer Advisory Board at Avis Budget Group.
Previous Experience at Paramount and ViacomCBS
Gerald Raines has significant experience at Paramount, where he worked for a total of 12 years. He served initially as the Senior Director of Theme Parks and Attractions from 2007 to 2012 and then transitioned to a role as Senior Vice President of Global Location Based Experiences from 2014 to 2021. Additionally, Raines worked as Vice President of Business Development at ViacomCBS from 2012 to 2014.
Background in the Entertainment Industry
Raines has a strong background in the entertainment industry, having held multiple key roles in major organizations. He served as an Advisory Board Member at VStar Entertainment Group from 2016 to 2019 and as the Senior Vice President of Lifestyle Products and Services at AARP from 2021 to 2023.
Education and Certifications
Gerald Raines has an extensive academic background with certifications from prestigious institutions. He achieved a Certificate in Cable Executive Management from Harvard Business School in 2017 and another in Program on Negotiation for Senior Executives from Harvard Law School in 2011. He also completed the NAMIC Executive Leadership Development Program at UCLA Anderson School of Management. Furthermore, he holds an MBA in Business Administration from Webster University and a Bachelor of Science in Political Science and Government from the United States Naval Academy.
Military and Early Career
Raines began his career as a Surface Warfare Officer in the U.S. Navy, serving from 1993 to 1999. Following his military service, he worked at The Walt Disney Company as Sports Event Manager at Disney's Wide World of Sports and as Senior Manager in Alliance Development.
Exemplary Experience in Business Development
With over 20 years of experience, Gerald Raines has a proven track record in negotiating contracts and managing high-profile partnerships. His extensive experience spans various industries, including sports, media, entertainment, and travel & leisure.