Michael O'Hara Lynch

Michael Lynch led Visa's global sponsorship marketing/management strategy and execution, including managing the Olympic and Paralympic Games, FIFA World Cup and NFL from 1995 through March, 2012. He and his team were responsible for identifying, securing and managing relationships with Visa's sponsorship partners.

Over 16 years, Lynch led Visa's sponsorship business to the pinnacle of the profession. Visa's innovative sponsorship marketing was renowned for differentiating and building the Visa brand, driving revenue, increasing ROI, and providing value to clients and cardholders. In addition to the world's biggest global properties, Visa's US sponsorship portfolio included some of the best properties in the business: USOC, NFL Teams, NASCAR, SUM/MLS, NGBs, Visa Triple Crown, Kentucky Derby, Broadway, Disney, Pebble Beach, SF Giants, and others. Lynch also selected, secured and managed the athletes for Visa.

During Lynch's tenure, Visa was recognized by Sports Business Journal as the 2010 "Sports Sponsor of the Year", by Event Marketer Magazine as the only financial services company among "The 25 Best Sponsors in America" and was heralded as "The most well-rounded sponsor around." Brandweek Magazine ran a cover story on Visa's Olympic Games sponsorship, calling Visa "the poster child" for effectively integrating a sponsorship and went on to say "nobody does it better." Lynch has been tabbed by The Sporting News magazine as one of the "100 Most Powerful People in Sports", and according to that publication: "Visa is everywhere competitors would like to be in sports marketing and sponsorships." Lynch also serves on the Board of Directors for Athletes for Hope Charitable Foundation.

Lynch joined Visa in 1995 after serving as VP of Events for Radio City Music Hall Productions in New York City. He was responsible for the overall development, management and production of Radio City's events business.

Prior to joining Radio City, Lynch was VP and General Manager of ProServ Inc., a then-leading worldwide sports management and marketing firm representing more than 150 professional athletes and 150 events annually. While at ProServ, Lynch was honored with an AdWeek Event Marketer of the Year award for a PGA Tour promotion he developed.

Lynch earned a BBA from the University of Notre Dame, and an MBA in Marketing from Cornell University. He also holds a CPA.