Scott Zanghellini
Senior Vice President, Head of Revenue Strategy and Development, WWE
Scott Zanghellini brings expertise in live events and pop culture gained from his time at CAA to WWE, helping to secure WWE's new deals with Blockchain Creative Labs for NFTs with Fox and with Panini in the trading card space.
WWE
Age: 29
Born: Morristown, N.J.
Education: Gettysburg College, B.A., economics/business
More about you
Most important lesson of the past 18 months: The importance of our fans. After more than a year of not having fans in attendance at live events due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we knew the WWE Universe was ready to return. We returned to live event touring in July after performing behind closed doors since March 2020. The fans bring so much energy to our events, fueling every part of the business.
Go-to person when I need help: My go-to person is Nick Khan. He always has the right advice/answers and has guided me in making tough professional and personal decisions.
My inspiration: Undoubtedly, my mom. … The one reason that has really stuck with me as I have grown professionally and personally is that she has always challenged me to be the best version of myself in everything I do. Growing up, she was by far the most competitive person I knew, so I appreciated the value of the competitive spirit at a young age.
In the industry
Most exciting aspect of sports business: There is constant opportunity because of technology. … Every part of the industry has been affected by technology, whether it’s ticketing, consumer products, content consumption, fan engagement, gaming, gambling, etc. As technology continues to improve and change our world, we will continue to adapt in real time to stay ahead of the curve.
How my generation is changing sports: Because of social media, we are able to have a finger on the pulse and the ways in which sports, media, music, fashion, and pop culture are interconnected. Staying in your lane is no longer a thing, and as time goes on, I believe our generation will continue to blur the lines between all platforms and industries.
Sports industry needs to do a better job of … : Taking risks. Just because something has been done one way for a long time, doesn’t mean that it can’t be improved.
