Founder, Chairman, and CEO, The Kraft Group
“A conversation with Bob Kraft moderated by Brian Moynihan”
November 2012
Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel
Robert Kraft is the Founder, Chairman and CEO of The Kraft Group, based in Foxborough, Mass. The Kraft Group is the holding company of the Kraft family’s many businesses, with interests concentrated in six areas: manufacturing of paper and packaging, international distribution of forest products, sports and entertainment, real estate development, private equity investing and philanthropy.
Kraft began his business career with the Rand-Whitney Group, Inc. of Worcester, Mass., a company that converted paper into packaging for various industries. He later acquired the company. In 1972, he founded International Forest Products, a trader of paper commodities that now does business in more than 90 countries. International Forest Products is the leading exporter in Massachusetts and consistently ranks among the Top 30 exporters in North America. Together, Rand-Whitney and International Forest Products comprise one of the largest privately-owned paper and packaging companies in the world. The Kraft Group’s holdings include the Rand-Whitney Group, Rand-Whitney Containerboard, International Forest Products, the New England Patriots, the New England Revolution, Gillette Stadium, Patriot Place and a portfolio of more than 100 private equity investments.
Kraft is widely recognized as one of the most successful owners in professional sports. As Chairman and CEO of the New England Patriots (National Football League) and Investor/Operator of the New England Revolution (Major League Soccer), Kraft has helped change the culture of professional sports in New England by delivering 10 conference titles and three league championships in the past 16 years. In addition to building two championship-driven franchises, Kraft has committed the resources necessary to create a world-class sports and entertainment complex with the privately-financed construction of Gillette Stadium as well as the development of Patriot Place. Gillette Stadium is the only stadium of its kind to be built without public funding and without the use of personal seat licenses (PSLs).
Kraft is a lifelong New England sports fan who began attending Boston Patriots games during their infancy in the 1960s. When the franchise moved to Foxborough in 1971, he purchased season tickets for his family, an account he maintained for the next 23 years before purchasing the team in 1994.
The Kraft family has built the Patriots into one of professional sports’ model organizations. Since purchasing the team in 1994, the Patriots have won more games (212), including more playoff games (19), more conference championships (6) and more Super Bowls (3) than any other team in the NFL. The Patriots also own two records for the longest consecutive win streaks in NFL history with 21 straight victories (including playoff games) and 10 straight in the playoffs. Since 2001, the Patriots’ .761 winning percentage is not only the highest in the NFL, but also the highest among any team in the five largest professional sports leagues in the U.S. (MLB, MLS, NBA, NFL and NHL).
A native of Brookline, Mass., Kraft attended public schools before matriculating to Columbia on an academic scholarship. Upon graduation, he received a fellowship to Harvard Business School, where he earned a master’s degree in business administration.
Kraft serves on the board of directors for Viacom. He is also on the executive committee of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, where he established the Robert K. Kraft Family Blood Donor Center. He is a trustee emeritus at Columbia and is a trustee of Boston College. He has also received honorary degrees from several colleges and universities. In 2012, he became the first NFL owner in the 43-year history of the honor to be selected for the George Halas Award by the Pro Football Writers of America. The award is presented annually to the NFL player, coach or staff member who overcomes the most adversity to succeed. In 2011, he was inducted into the 231st class of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, one of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious learned societies. With his induction, he joins the likes of many other Patriots, including George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams and John Hancock. In 2006, Kraft was awarded the NCAA’s highest honor when he received the Theodore Roosevelt Award, which is presented annually to a distinguished citizen of national reputation with outstanding accomplishments.
Over the past four decades, the Kraft family has been one of New England’s most philanthropic families, donating over $100 million dollars in support of local charities and civic affairs. Most recently, the Krafts pledged $20 million to Partners HealthCare to launch the Kraft Family National Center for Leadership and Training in Community Health, an initiative designed to improve access to quality healthcare at community health centers throughout New England.