The path so far
Academic High School
Matura, June 1989
Vienna University of Economics and Business
Completion of Business Administration, June 1995
Schoellerbank AG, Vienna
Junior Controller, 07/1995 - 10/1997
FK Austria Wien (Group)
- Various functions, Manager from 1997
- CEO of FAK AG from 2008
- Managing Director of various subsidiaries (Ltd. for Food & Beverage, Merchandising, Real Estate, International Marketing), 11/1997 - 06/2021
- Sporting successes of FK Austria Wien under MK's leadership (National):
3x Austrian Championship
5x Austrian Cup Winner
2x Super Cup Winner
3x Indoor Champion - Sporting successes of FK Austria Wien under MK's leadership (International):
1x UEFA Champions League Group Stage
1x UEFA Cup Quarter Finals
6x UEFA Cup/Europa League Group Stage
Mandates on Austrian FA (ÖFB) committees
Presidential Board, Board of Directors, Finance Commission, Supervisory Board of Austrian FA Business ltd.), 03/2006 - 06/2021
Mandates on Austrian LEAGUE (ÖFBL) committees
Vice President, Supervisory Board member, various working groups such as TV contract and licensing, 03/2006 - 06/2021
International Mandates
ECA - European Club Association, 02/2007 - 06/2021
ESG/CSR activities
- Creation of a separate FK Austria Wien brand for the areas of environment (Environmental Award of the City of Vienna, stadium construction according to ÖGNI criteria)
- Society commitment (SCORT Foundation, Special Violets)
- Social commitment (Caritas, learning assistance, special therapies)
- Development of the dual education model with the Ball Sports High School, Vienna (Soccer, American Football, Basketball, Volleyball)
- Co-Development of the dual training model with the VIOLAFIT program (club internal at FK Austria Wien)
- Development of the women's football department incl. Youth Academy (from 2015) at FK Austria Wien
- CSR/ESG-Workshops and Consulting for Clubs (from 01/2022)
Development of the internationalisation strategy - FK Austria Wien Partnerships with:
- Zenit St. Petersburg (RUS)
- BVB Dortmund (D)
- FC Bayern München (D) - IT department, SAP project
Digitalisation
- Implementation of SAP project in all areas of the club (Sport & Admin) at FK Austria Wien, since 2018
- Cashless Payment (Generali Arena, Vienna - 2018/First stadium in Austria)
- Consulting of Start-Ups and APP-Developments in the field of Soccer, Fitness, Influencer etc. (eg ESPORTIDO plc)
Infrastructure
- Planning and implementation of the new building of the club academy (06/2010) at FK Austria Wien
- Successive modernisation of the stadium (new stand, floodlights, lawnheating) at FK Austria Wien
- Initiator of the S.T.A.R. project (new stadium, training plant modernisation, academy extension) at FK Austria Wien
Technical Presentations
- University of Nevada, Las Vegas (USA)/Boyd School of Law - Class "Professional Sports Law"
- University of Salzburg/Course Sport Journalism - Class "Interviewtraining"
- Euro-FH of Hamburg (GER) - Certificate Course Marketing, 02/2024
- Austrian Soccer League´s Academy and Campus
- Contrast Management Academy at international congresses
- Technical articles and co-book author
Lecturer at the International Football Institute (IFI; in cooperation with HAM in Ismaning, GER)
- Bachelor-Module "Organisation in Football"
- Masters-Module "International Association Management"
- Institute's Certificate Program Module "Strategic Management"
Consulting
- AMERICAN FOOTBALL - ELF Project of the Vienna Vikings (starting in 09/2021; Structure Ltd. Company-Association; Investors; Sponsorships) - Champions of the ELF 2022 (in the first year of this new Franchise)
- BASKETBALL - Vienna DC Timberwolves (Structure Ltd. Company-Association; Investors; Sponsorships)
- SOCCER - M&A Projects; Special Financing Solutions; Clubs' Cooperations
- VOLLEYBALL - Project "New Austrian Volleyball League-ÖVL" (Structuring League Association in cooperation with National Association; Development)
- IFI-CONSULTING - Strategic Partnerships for Consulting of Clubs, Associations and Partners in Soccer in the Region A - CH - GER
- START-UP Companies - Finding Partners and Investors, different fields like Energy, Senior Living/Care Services, Health Services and Foreign Languages etc.
Current Shareholdings of MK Consulting ltd
- Football AFC Betriebs ltd (FN 565536x)
- Unique Soccer Cooperations - USC ltd (FN 598850m)
- Die Karrierebegleiter - DKB ltd (FN 603810g)
- ESPORTIDO plc (Munich Local Court HRB 259706)
Current mandates of Markus Kraetschmer
- Managing Director "MK Consulting ltd" (FN 560257h)
- Managing Director "Unique Soccer Cooperations - USC ltd" (FN 598850m)
- Managing Director "Die Karrierebegleiter - DKB ltd" (FN 603810g)
- Managing Director "KENSTON Business GmbH" - Duesseldorf; Dubai, London, Vienna - FN 613197
- Managing Director "Infinite Lifestyle Management ltd" - London; Company Nr. 15507812)
- Senior Advisor to the Management Board Alessa Capital ltd (London)
- Senior Advisor to the Management Board Activo Investment Holding SA (Reg. B265946 LUX)
- Senior Advisor to the Board of Presidents (for Strategy, Structure, Sponsoring) of ÖVL - Austrian Volleyball Bundesliga (ZVR 1983883977)
- Founder of the project "ESG4sports" (ESG strategies for sports organisations and clubs)
- Strategic Partner of FanInvest (FN 568545x)
- Member of the advisory board of the ELF franchise of the Vienna Vikings (Football AFC Betriebs GmbH, FN 565536x)
- Certified expert for company pension schemes (BRBZ eV, Germany)
Personal Awards
- Golden City Hall Man, Vienna (2014)
- Grand Decoration of Honour, Burgenland (2018)
- VICTOR Sports Manager of the Year (2018)
Languages
- German (mother tongue)
- English (native proficiency; spoken and written fluently)
- French, Spanish (basic knowledge)
