Michael Israel is an award-winning CIO, COO, Corporate Officer, and Advisory Board Member with dynamic leadership expertise spanning technology, operations, business development, and marketing with top media, entertainment, and technology companies.

Mr. Israel currently serves as Chief Information Officer for The Kraft Group of privately held companies, which operates in 90+ countries, and has diversified interests in professional sports, manufacturing, real estate development, and philanthropy. As CIO, he leads the IT function across The Kraft Group and its operating companies, including Gillette Stadium, Kraft Sports and Entertainment, The New England Patriots, The New England Revolution, Kraft Analytics Group, Patriot Place, International Forest Products, Rand-Whitney Containerboard, and the Rand-Whitney Group. He leads an Information Services team of 60 and maintains full responsibility for all CIO, CISO, and CTO duties. Since joining the organization in 2019, Michael planned and executed a major re-architecture of the Gillette Stadium operating environment, implemented a large-scale stadium entertainment network that created a new revenue stream for the corporate sponsorship team, and invested over $25M to deliver enhanced broadcast operations. Additionally, he developed AI and RPA-based tools to reduce operating expenses and improve data integrity across Kraft Group companies, including an AI-based automated behavioral analytics system for comprehensive security management and an AI-driven Automated Raw Material detection system that has reduced downtime and material costs.

Michael was previously the Senior Vice President of Information Services/Chief Information Officer for Six Flags Entertainment Corporation, where he led IT operations for all Six Flags Theme Parks and corporate offices across North America. As a key executive team member, he led an organization of 148+ and an annual IT budget of $25M. Over 11 years with Six Flags, Mr. Israel led transformational work across the organization, including a $22M initiative to revamp the IT Infrastructure in 11 facilities that decreased transaction processing time by 500%, the launch of a standardized vendor contract program that reduced IT costs by up to 28%, and an array innovation projects that enabled world-class guest experiences. His e-commerce and ticketing system today are responsible for over 50% of all corporate revenue annually. 

Mr. Israel built additional leadership, technical, and consulting expertise as a Strategic Advisor with Cloudscann (VisualC3), as a Consultant with Financial Security Assurance, and as both a CIO and SVP with AMC Computer Corporation. He has earned numerous high-profile awards throughout his career, most recently as an ORBIE CIO of the Year–Super Global Finalist and CIO Magazine CIO Top 100 honoree.

Michael currently serves as a Customer Advisory Board member with Dell, Cisco and Extreme Networks and as an Innovation Advisory Council Member with Vation Ventures. Outside of his professional life, Mr. Israel has supported various impactful causes as an advisor, mentor, and leader, including NPower and The Boy Scouts of America. He enjoys outdoor endeavors, automotive racing events and car shows, skiing, and photography.