- Alumnus; On Campus and On Location
Marc de Grandpre ’96, ’00 has parlayed an undergraduate concentration in sport management and an M.B.A from SNHU into a career marketing notable worldwide brands.
A Montreal native who played hockey and baseball for the Penmen, de Grandpre’s sport management studies helped him secure a marketing position with Nike/Bauer Hockey upon graduation. Fifteen years later, after subsequent marketing roles with energy drink maker Red Bull and wireless telecommunications developer Qualcomm, he is the chief marketing officer for IMAX, the entertainment technology company best known for its worldwide network of more than 500 immersive movie theaters.
“When you’re in the business world, you usually have a product that is consistent, whereas in the sports world, you’re at the mercy of your product, which can perform one day and not perform the next,” he says. “It makes your job that much more difficult as a manager of sales and marketing. Clearly that is what SNHU prepared me for, and I think that gave me an advantage.”
Over the last 40 years, IMAX’s business has evolved from providing entertainment in large-format institutional theaters – such as those in museums – to becoming a major distribution platform for Hollywood films. Part of de Grandpre’s mission is to extend the IMAX brand beyond theaters while keeping it true to its roots.
“It’s truly an opportunity for us to define what IMAX can provide consumers and bring the brand to life outside of the theater, and that was the big challenge that got me excited about the job,” he says.
At SNHU, de Grandpre benefited from the guidance of professors and coaches who cared about keeping him focused on the right things, and his experience as a student-athlete has paid dividends for him professionally.
“Being a student-athlete helps discipline you and give you the work ethic to be able to handle a lot of things at once,” he says. “It probably prepared me for what you face in the corporate world. You’re simultaneously managing your team and 100 action items, so you have to learn to prioritize and make sure your team is clearly aligned behind those priorities.”
