It’s a big week for WWE, who have not only confirmed that next week’s guest host for Monday Night Raw will be none other than second-man-to-walk-on-the-moon Buzz Aldrin, but that the show will also mark the final appearance of Hall of Famer Bret “The Hitman” Hart.
In the same week, MeetTheBoss.tv, the executive business channel, is broadcasting an exclusive interview with WWE’s EVP International, Andrew Whitaker. In the interview, which sees the experienced business leader talk about just why the company is one of the most popular global brands in the entertainment industry, Whitaker reveals the processes involved in reaching a diverse and intensely loyal fan base all across the globe.
“In essence, we are storytellers,” Whitaker explains to MeetTheBoss.tv’s Jonathan Spragg. “We are producing a television programme that introduces compelling characters, strong storylines and, in return, delivers an action soap opera to audiences now in 145 countries around the world.”
Speaking candidly about corporate strategy at WWE, Whitaker explains how the global domination of the brand continues to flourish. “In the beginning, the challenge was one of education […] But one of the best lessons [we’ve learned] is that doggedness and being slightly relentless is a very much a positive.”
Whitaker also talks about creating WWE superstars (“You either have charisma, or you don’t”), and what impact technology is having on strategizing for a global brand (“There is always an aspect to the corporate world that means you are ‘always on’ and there are times when you just have to push those [technology] devices away from you so that can get a chance to take a step back and think”).
To suggest Whitaker is the man behind the push for WWE’s global domination, is something of an understatement. Having joined WWE in 1987 as part of the team delivering television syndication and developing WWE’s pay-per-view business, he later moved to WWE’s international division in 1991, working in live events, international television and the pay-per-view business from WWE’s London office. It was here that Whitaker negotiated the largest international television contracts in the company's history.
Of course, Whitaker is more humble about his approach: “By having good people and building relationships with those people and encouraging them and giving them accountability and sharing your goals with them, you can create a situation where you really are able to multiply the force capability of what it is you are able to accomplish.
“And it really wasn’t any business school that really taught me this. It has been something that I learned from doing and then realizing that you just can’t do it all by yourself.”
To watch the interview in full, please log in to MeetTheBoss.tv. Sign up is free.
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