Jonathan Kraft
Encyclopedia
Jonathan A. Kraft is an American
businessman, the president
of the New England Patriots
, owner/investor of the New England Revolution
, and both president and chief operating officer
of The Kraft Group
. He is one of four children of New England Patriots
owner Robert Kraft
and his late wife Myra Kraft
.
for high school. In 1986, Kraft graduated from Williams College
with a bachelor's degree
in history
. He currently serves on Williams' board of trustees. After working as a consultant at Bain & Company
for two years, Kraft earned his MBA
from Harvard Business School
in 1990.
, Kraft serves on two owners' committees. In March 2006
, when the National Football League Players Association and the NFL were dead-locked in contract negotiations, Kraft designed the revenue sharing plan that was used for that version of the collective bargaining agreement.
, Kraft has been the co-owner/investor of the Revolution, along with his father. Foxboro hosted its third MLS Cup
in 2002, the first in Gillette Stadium and the first involving the Revolution as one of the teams vying for the MLS title. In front of an MLS-record crowd of 61,136, the Revolution would go on to lose the match, as well as their other three MLS Cup appearances in 2005, 2006, and 2007.
played host to six matches of the 1994 FIFA World Cup
, five of the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup
, as well as the 2000 Founder's Cup
. In November 2005, the Krafts expressed interested in purchasing the Liverpool F.C.
, but the team was eventually acquired by a pair including Tom Hicks
, the owner of the Dallas Stars
and Texas Rangers
, in February 2007.
Kraft also served as the owner/investor of the San Jose Earthquakes
from 1999–2000, the two years which the Kraft Group owned the team.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
businessman, the president
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
of the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
, owner/investor of the New England Revolution
New England Revolution
The New England Revolution is an American professional association football club based in Foxborough, Massachusetts which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
, and both president and chief operating officer
Chief operating officer
A Chief Operating Officer or Director of Operations can be one of the highest-ranking executives in an organization and comprises part of the "C-Suite"...
of The Kraft Group
The Kraft Group
The Kraft Group, LLC is a group of privately held companies in the professional sports, manufacturing, and real-estate development industries doing business in 82 countries...
. He is one of four children of New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
owner Robert Kraft
Robert Kraft
Robert K. Kraft is an American business magnate. He is the Chairman and was the Chief Executive Officer of The Kraft Group, a diversified holding company with assets in paper and packaging, sports and entertainment, real estate development and a private equity portfolio...
and his late wife Myra Kraft
Myra Kraft
Myra Nathalie Kraft, née Hiatt was an American philanthropist. She was the daughter of the late Worcester philanthropist Jacob Hiatt and wife of New England Patriots and New England Revolution owner Robert Kraft....
.
Education
Kraft attended the Belmont Hill SchoolBelmont Hill School
Belmont Hill School is a prestigious independent boys school located on a campus in Belmont, a suburb of Boston, Massachusetts. The school enrolls approximately 440 students in grades 7-12, separated into the Middle School and the Upper School , and refers to these grades as "Forms" with a Roman...
for high school. In 1986, Kraft graduated from Williams College
Williams College
Williams College is a private liberal arts college located in Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States. It was established in 1793 with funds from the estate of Ephraim Williams. Originally a men's college, Williams became co-educational in 1970. Fraternities were also phased out during this...
with a bachelor's degree
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
. He currently serves on Williams' board of trustees. After working as a consultant at Bain & Company
Bain & Company
Bain & Company is a global management consulting firm headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. Bain is considered one of the most prestigious consulting firms in the world, with 47 offices in 30 countries and over 5,500 professionals on staff globally...
for two years, Kraft earned his MBA
Master of Business Administration
The Master of Business Administration is a :master's degree in business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines. The MBA designation originated in the United States, emerging from the late 19th century as the country industrialized and companies sought out...
from Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School is the graduate business school of Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts, United States and is widely recognized as one of the top business schools in the world. The school offers the world's largest full-time MBA program, doctoral programs, and many executive...
in 1990.
New England Patriots
Since his family's purchase of the team in 1994, Kraft has held the titles of Vice President (1994–1999), Vice Chairman (2000–2005) and President (2005–present), and thus has overseen the management of each department in the organization.Role with the NFL
Within the National Football LeagueNational Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
, Kraft serves on two owners' committees. In March 2006
2006 NFL season
The 2006 NFL season was the 87th regular season of the National Football League.Regular season play was held from September 7 to December 31, 2006...
, when the National Football League Players Association and the NFL were dead-locked in contract negotiations, Kraft designed the revenue sharing plan that was used for that version of the collective bargaining agreement.
New England Revolution
Since their inception in 1995 as one of the inaugural teams of Major League SoccerMajor League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
, Kraft has been the co-owner/investor of the Revolution, along with his father. Foxboro hosted its third MLS Cup
MLS Cup
The MLS Cup is the championship match of Major League Soccer, the highest tier of professional soccer in the United States and Canada. As the final match of the MLS Cup playoffs, the winner is crowned the season champion in the same manner as other North American sports leagues...
in 2002, the first in Gillette Stadium and the first involving the Revolution as one of the teams vying for the MLS title. In front of an MLS-record crowd of 61,136, the Revolution would go on to lose the match, as well as their other three MLS Cup appearances in 2005, 2006, and 2007.
Other soccer involvements
The Krafts' interest in soccer has extended beyond the Revolution. Foxboro StadiumFoxboro Stadium
Foxboro Stadium was an outdoor stadium, located in Foxborough, Massachusetts...
played host to six matches of the 1994 FIFA World Cup
1994 FIFA World Cup
The 1994 FIFA World Cup, the 15th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in nine cities across the United States from June 17 to July 17, 1994. The United States was chosen as the host by FIFA on July 4, 1988...
, five of the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup
FIFA Women's World Cup 1999
-Teams:16 teams participated in the final tournament. The teams were:-Squads:For a list of all squads that played in the final tournament, see 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup squads.-Match officials:...
, as well as the 2000 Founder's Cup
Women's United Soccer Association
The Women's United Soccer Association, often abbreviated to the WUSA, was the world's first women's soccer league in which all the players were paid as professionals. Founded in February 2000, the league began its first season in April 2001 with eight teams in the United States...
. In November 2005, the Krafts expressed interested in purchasing the Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
, but the team was eventually acquired by a pair including Tom Hicks
Tom Hicks
Thomas Ollis Hicks, Sr. , is an American 'leveraged buyout' businessman living in Dallas, Texas. Despite Forbes Magazine estimating Hicks' wealth at USD 1 billion in 2009, Hicks was unable to pay off joint loans of circa £200 million the following year...
, the owner of the Dallas Stars
Dallas Stars
The Dallas Stars are a professional ice hockey team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The team was founded during the 1967 NHL expansion as the Minnesota North Stars, based in Bloomington, Minnesota. The...
and Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
, in February 2007.
Kraft also served as the owner/investor of the San Jose Earthquakes
San Jose Earthquakes
The San Jose Earthquakes professional soccer team is located in the San Jose, California, United States suburb of Santa Clara, and participates in Major League Soccer , the top level soccer league in the United States and Canada....
from 1999–2000, the two years which the Kraft Group owned the team.