Speaker Profile

Joe Ruggiero is Vice President of Strategy & Business Development for the NFL’s Partnerships business. In his role, Joe is responsible for overall strategy for the Partnerships business, including setting growth strategy, driving research and analytics, developing business opportunities, and negotiating key partnerships.

The NFL’s Partnerships business is comprised of Sponsorship and Consumer Products. The NFL’s Sponsorship team develops and manages strategic partnerships with 30 official NFL sponsors. The NFL’s Consumer Products team is responsible for partnerships with over 100 licensees of officially-licensed NFL products, management of the NFL’s e-commerce platform NFLShop.com, on-field product support, and the NFL’s gaming portfolio.

Joe primarily focuses on partnerships in innovation and emerging opportunities to enhance the game and fan experience. Key areas of focus include in-game technology innovation, video-gaming, e-commerce, and ongoing efforts to assess potential future sports betting opportunities.

In his six years at the NFL, Joe has led or supported over twenty-five NFL partnership negotiations, including partnerships with Amazon Web Services, Caesars Entertainment, Ford, Hyundai, Intel, Lowe’s, Microsoft, Nationwide, Pepsi, Pizza Hut, and Verizon, amongst others. His team has helped to grow several key NFL platforms, including the Pepsi Super Bowl Halftime Show, the NFL’s partnership with Amazon Web Services on Next Gen Stats, and the NFL’s partnership with Nationwide on the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award.

Joe joined the NFL in 2013. Previously, Joe was an Engagement Manager with McKinsey & Company, focusing on strategy and corporate finance. He began his career at Navigant Consulting. Joe received his MBA from New York University in 2008 and undergraduate degree from Georgetown University in 2002. Joe lives in New Jersey with his wife Lauren and four children Samantha, Charlotte, Joe IV, and Audrey.