{{short description|German entrepreneur (born 1978)}} {{Infobox person | pre-nominals = | name = Michael Mack | post-nominals = | image = MichaelMack2025.jpg | landscape = <!-- yes, if wide image, otherwise leave blank --> | alt = <!-- descriptive text for use by speech synthesis (text-to-speech) software --> | caption = Michael Mack in 2025 | native_name = | native_name_lang = | pronunciation = | birth_name = <!-- only use if different from name --> | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1978|12|21}} | birth_place = Freiburg im Breisgau, West Germany | baptised = <!-- will not display if birth_date is entered --> | disappeared_date = <!-- {{Disappeared date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} (disappeared date then birth date) --> | disappeared_place = | disappeared_status = | death_date = <!-- {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} (DEATH date then BIRTH date) --> | death_place = | death_cause = | body_discovered = | resting_place = | resting_place_coordinates = <!-- {{coord|LAT|LONG|type:landmark|display=inline}} --> | burial_place = <!-- may be used instead of resting_place and resting_place_coordinates (displays "Burial place" as label) --> | burial_coordinates = <!-- {{coord|LAT|LONG|type:landmark|display=inline}} --> | monuments = | other_names = | citizenship = | education = International Business Management | alma_mater = | occupation = | years_active = | era = | employer = | organization = Europapark Rust | agent = <!-- Discouraged in most cases, specifically when promotional, and requiring a reliable source --> | known_for = | notable_works = <!-- produces label "Notable work"; may be overridden by |credits=, which produces label "Notable credit(s)"; or by |works=, which produces label "Works"; or by |label_name=, which produces label "Label(s)" --> | style = | height = <!-- "X cm", "X m" or "X ft Y in" plus optional reference (conversions are automatic) --> | television = | title = <!-- Formal/awarded/job title. The parameter |office=may be used as an alternative when the label is better rendered as "Office" (e.g. public office or appointments) --> | term = | predecessor = | successor = | party = | movement = | opponents = | boards = International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions | criminal_charge = <!-- Criminality parameters should be supported with citations from reliable sources --> | criminal_penalty = | criminal_status = | spouse = Miriam Mack | partner = <!-- (unmarried long-term partner) --> | children = | parents = <!-- overrides mother and father parameters --> | mother = Marianne Mack | father = Roland Mack | relatives = {{unbulleted list|Thomas Mack (brother)|Ann-Kathrin Mack (sister)|Jürgen Mack (uncle)}} | family = | callsign = | awards = French Legion of Honour | website = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} --> | module = | module2 = | module3 = | module4 = | module5 = | module6 = | signature = | signature_size = | signature_alt = | footnotes = }} '''Michael Mack''' (born December 21, 1978 in Freiburg im Breisgau) is a German entrepreneur. He belongs to the Mack Family, which owns and runs the German theme park Europa-Park.
== Life == Mack grew up in Rust. He graduated from Ettenheim high school in 1998.<ref>Kramer, Bernd (2020-08-11). "Michael Mack". ''Badische Zeitung'' (in German).</ref> He is the son of Roland Mack, the founder of Europa-Park, and his wife Marianne. He has two younger siblings, Thomas and Ann-Kathrin.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ein Familienunternehmen mit langer Tradition |url=https://corporate.europapark.com/de/unternehmen/familiemack/ |access-date=2023-03-31 |website=Europapark.com |language=german}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Die Disneys aus Rust |url=https://www.brandeins.de/magazine/brand-eins-wirtschaftsmagazin/2015/talent/die-disneys-aus-rust |access-date=2023-03-31 |website=brandeins.de |language=german}}</ref> As a teenager, Michael Mack begain working in Europa-Park.<ref>Michael Roth (2008-09-13) "Gebremster Generationswechsel im Europapark". ''Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung'' (in German).</ref> In 2003, Michael Mack completed a tri-national degree in International Business Management in Basel, Lörrach and Colmar. During his studies, he completed internships in various amusement parks.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Michael Mack |url=http://www.gesichter-der-nachhaltigkeit.de/gesichter/michael-mack |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190501075648/http://www.gesichter-der-nachhaltigkeit.de/gesichter/michael-mack |archive-date=2019-05-01 |access-date=2023-03-31 |website=Gesichter der Nachhaltigkeit |language=german}}</ref>
Since 2010, he has been married to Miriam Mack, with whom he has two sons, Paul and Jacob.<ref name=":4" /><ref>Jürgen Ruf (2025-05-23). "Flanieren im Land des Lavendels". ''Badische Zeitung'' (in German).</ref>
== Career == Mack took over the co-leadership of the ''Mack Rides'' rollercoaster business between 2005 and 2008,<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last1=Vetter |first1=Philipp |date=2017-08-27 |title=So will der Europapark Disney Konkurrenz machen |language=german |website=Welt.de |url=https://www.welt.de/wirtschaft/article168007630/So-will-der-Europapark-Disney-Konkurrenz-machen.html |access-date=2023-03-31}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Unterwegs als Ed Euromaus |url=https://www.swr.de/swraktuell/baden-wuerttemberg/suedbaden/Unterwegs-als-Ed-Euromaus,av-o1030268-100.html |access-date=2018-12-18 |website=SWR |language=german}}</ref><ref name=":3" /><ref>Jürgen Ruf (2007-06-29). "Jetzt ist die achte Generation dabei – Botschaft an Kunden und Belegschaft: Die Brüder Michael (28) und Thomas (26) Mack rücken in die Geschäftsführung auf". ''Badische Zeitung'' (in German).</ref><ref>Peter Teuwsen (2013-07-04). "Im Dienste des Vergnügens: Eine Million Schweizerinnen und Schweizer fahren jährlich ins süddeutsche Rust, in den beliebtesten und erfolgreichsten Freizeitpark Europas. Was macht die Besitzerfamilie Mack besser als andere?" In: ''Die Zeit'' (in German).</ref><ref>Stefan Hupka (2015-07-11). "Ab und zu ein Stück Holz – BZ-Interview- mit Europa-Park-Chef Roland Mack und seinem Sohn Michael über Erfolg, Bodenhaftung und den Zwang zur Innovation". ''Badische Zeitung'' (in German).</ref><ref>Jürgen Ruf (2005-11-15). "Punkten mit Konzepten – Der neue Geschäftsführer Christian Freiherr von Elverfeldt soll Mack-Rides aus der Krise führen". ''Badische Zeitung'' (in German).</ref> developing zero-level manufacturing in track production and the rickshaw technology.<ref>Florian Schwab (2017-09-07). "Meister Mack und seine Kinder". ''Weltwoche'' (in German).</ref>
In 2008, Mack joined the Europa-Park company and assumed responsibility for certain operational tasks.<ref>"Menschen und Märkte". ''Die Welt'' (in German)''.'' 2007-06-29.</ref>
In 2002, Mack established his first own business, ''Mack Media'', which creates 3D/4D movies and virtual reality rollercoaster software. In 2015, a subsidiary named ''VR Coaster'' was founded.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2016-12-14 |title=Trend VR-Coaster: Interview mit Michael Mack von MackMedia/ Europa-Park |url=https://blog.games-career.com/de/trend-vr-coaster-interview-mit-michael-mack-von-mackmedia/ |access-date=2023-03-31 |website=Games-Career Blog |language=de-DE}}</ref><ref>Der Extra-Kick: ''Mit Filmen für 3D-Brillen baut sich der Europa-Park ein ganz neues Geschäftsfeld auf.'', Handelsblatt May 2, 2016. German.</ref><ref name="Blooloop">{{Cite web |title=Michael Mack |url=https://blooloop.com/theme-park/influencer/michael-mack/ |access-date=2023-04-02 |website=Blooloop |language=en-GB}}</ref>
Since 2007 Mack has been responsible for the ''Mack Solutions'' subsidiary, as well as the strategic business development entertainment and the construction management of the amusement park.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-10-16 |title=Der Europa-Park geht in die Trickfilmbranche |url=https://www.stuttgarter-nachrichten.de/inhalt.virtual-reality-in-freizeitparks-der-europa-park-geht-in-die-trickfilmbranche.8bc843c9-dc2f-42d9-8880-e4e4ffe2f5e6.html |access-date=2023-03-31 |website=Stuttgarter Nachrichten |language=german}}</ref>
In 2016, Mack was appointed Managing Partner of Europa-Park.<ref>Susanne Preuß (2016-05-02). "Jetzt sind die Buben Geschäftsführer vom Europa-Park"''.'' ''Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung'' (in German).</ref>
In 2017, he became executive director of Europa-Park.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Budras |first1=Corinna |date=2017-10-24 |title=König der Achterbahnen |url=https://www.faz.net/aktuell/wirtschaft/unternehmen/europa-park-rust-michael-mack-uebernimmt-zepter-vom-vater-15257316.html |access-date=2023-03-31 |website=Frankfurter Allgemeine |language=german}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-11-24 |title=Europa-Park-Chef Michael Mack: "Wir sind offen und gesprächsbereit" |url=https://www.badische-zeitung.de/rust/europa-park-chef-michael-mack-wir-sind-offen-und-gespraechsbereit--160317870.html |access-date=2023-03-31 |website=Badische Zeitung |language=german}}</ref> In the same year, Mack founded the label ''Mack Music'' and soon after the production company ''Mack Animation''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Music Production and Publishing |url=https://www.mackmedia.de/en/media-production/music-production-publishing/ |access-date=2023-03-31 |website=Mack Media |language=en-US}}</ref>
In 2019, Mack founded ''MackNext'' to develop technology for the entertainment sector.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brégeard |first=Olivier |date=2025-09-17 |title=Alsace. Europa-Park : l'empire Mack prend le virage du numérique à Plobsheim |url=https://www.lalsace.fr/culture-loisirs/2025/09/17/a-plobsheim-l-empire-mack-prend-le-virage-du-numerique |access-date=2025-10-06 |website=L'Alsace |language=FR}}</ref> In 2020, the VR entertainment company ''Yullbe'' was launched.
In 2022, Michael Mack founded [https://mackone.eu MACK One] France SAS, a company based in Plobsheim near Strasbourg in the Alsace region of France. The company is part of the MACK Group and brings together the group’s marketing and sales activities for the French market, while also serving as a location for development and innovation.
The MACK One Campus in Plobsheim is used for the development and testing of virtual reality (VR) and extended reality (XR) technologies, as well as for the creation of prototypes for products and applications associated with the MACK Group.
The site also hosts activities related to storytelling and creative development, including work carried out by the group’s internal content and storytelling unit, MACK Magic.
In 2025, Mack produced the animated feature film Grand Prix of Europe<ref>"Wir haben mit das beste Animationsstudio in Deutschland". ''Markgräfler Zeitung'' (in German)''.'' 2025-07-19.</ref> and 2026 the television series "Dino Mates – Ferien bei Madame Freudenreich" based on the Europa-Park attraction "Madame Freudenreich".<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2024-10-28 |title=2025 im Sender "Kika": Das ist über die neue Europa-Park-Fernsehserie bekannt |url=https://www.schwarzwaelder-bote.de/inhalt.2025-im-sender-kika-das-ist-ueber-die-neue-europa-park-fernsehserie-bekannt.74d3387c-5081-409b-be85-981291240de0.html |access-date=2025-10-06 |website=Schwarzwälder Bote |language=de}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=Dino Mates |date=2026-01-27 |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt34351557/ |access-date=2026-01-28 |others=Mark Schardan, Brittany Field, Rosa Blake |publisher=B-Water Studios, MACK Magic}}</ref>
== Other activities and public reception == [[File:Europa Park Macron und Mack.jpg|thumb|upright|Michael Mack, Emmanuel Macron and Roland Mack (Europa-Park, 2018)]]Mack is a member of the European board of International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions and of the board of Governors of the Liseberg Applause Award.<ref name="Blooloop" />
In August 2018 Mack became French Honorary Consul. He received the exequatur from the ambassador of France, Anne-Marie Descôtes.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-10-11 |title=Michael Mack zum Honorarkonsul in Freiburg im Breisgau ernannt |url=https://de.ambafrance.org/Michael-Mack-zum-Honorarkonsul-in-Freiburg-im-Breisgau-ernannt |access-date=2023-03-31 |website=French Embassy in Germany |language=german}}</ref>
=== Awards and memberships === In 2016, Capital magazine listed Michael Mack among “Germany’s Top 40 under 40” as an influential young entrepreneur. In 2020, Mack was voted ''Hotel Manager of the Year''.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Wesermann |first=Rolf |date=2020-02-04 |title=Preisverleihung: Die Hoteliers des Jahres 2020 im Porträt |url=https://www.ahgz.de/hotellerie/news/die-hoteliers-des-jahres-2020-im-portraet-273497 |access-date=2023-04-02 |website=aghz |language=de}}</ref> In 2023, he was honoured by the ''German Zunft der Fasnetrufer'', one of the oldest Freiburg carnival guilds.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-01-24 |title=Närrische Auszeichnung: Michael Mack erhält Ehrenmütze der Fasnetrufer |url=https://www.stadtanzeiger-ortenau.de/rust/c-panorama/michael-mack-erhaelt-ehrenmuetze-der-fasnetrufer_a84058 |access-date=2023-03-31 |website=Stadtanzeiger Ortenau |language=de}}</ref> 2025, Michael Mack was made a member of the French Legion of Honour.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Emmanuel Macron ehrt Roland und Michael Mack mit der höchsten französischen Auszeichnung |url=https://corporate.europapark.com/de/presse/nachricht/datum/2025/01/29/emmanuel-macron-ehrt-roland-und-michael-mack-mit-der-hoechsten-franzoesischen-auszeichnung/ |access-date=2025-02-03 |website=corporate.europapark.com |language=de}}</ref>
=== Covid-19 Tweet === During the COVID-19 pandemic, Mack's sharing of a political right-wing podcast and commentary on the federal government's crisis management on Twitter caused public irritation, after which Mack deleted the corresponding tweet and publicly apologised.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Müller |first=Andreas |date=2022-02-15 |title=Juniorchef des Europaparks ein Querdenker?: "Mal was anderes hören" |url=https://www.stuttgarter-zeitung.de/inhalt.juniorchef-des-europaparks-ein-querdenker-mal-mal-was-anderes-hoeren.60cc88fd-5ae3-4d6e-b4e9-be7a53edcd1e.html |access-date=2023-03-31 |website=Stuttgarter Zeitung |language=de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kovacs |first=Karl |date=2022-02-11 |title=Tweet bringt Europa-Park-Chef Michael Mack in Bedrängnis |url=https://www.badische-zeitung.de/tweet-bringt-europa-park-chef-michael-mack-in-bedraengnis--209323514.html |access-date=2023-03-31 |website=Badische Zeitung |language=de}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist|30em}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mack, Michael}} Category:1978 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century German businesspeople Category:Businesspeople from Freiburg im Breisgau Category:Europa-Park Category:Amusement parks in Germany Category:Economy of Freiburg im Breisgau Category:Nickelodeon in amusement parks