About Michael Mack

Michael Mack was born on 21st December 1978 in Freiburg. He grew up in Rust, where he also attended primary school. In 1998, he finished his A-levels at secondary school in neighbouring Ettenheim.

Michael Mack is the son of Europa-Park founder Roland Mack and his wife Marianne. He has two siblings, Thomas (born 4th January 1981) and Ann-Kathrin (born 19th October 1989).

From 1999 to 2003, Michael Mack completed tri-national studies in International Business Management based in Basel, Lörrach and Colmar, finishing with a degree in business management.

Michael Mack had already gained his first experience with the family business during his youth, when he worked in the areas of attractions, marketing and technology, among others.

During his studies he completed numerous internships and worked for Hubert Burda Media in Offenburg, Munich as well as abroad as part of his dual studies.

Michael Mack also gained international experience at well-known international theme parks such as Liseberg (SWE), Bush Gardens Williamsburg / VA (USA), Warner Bros. Movie World / Queensland (AUS), Nigloland (FRA) and Port Aventura (ESP).

In 2002, Michael Mack founded the MackMedia company. True to the company motto ‘The wide world is my playground’, MackMedia continues to build on the same values that have helped the Mack family business achieve success since 1780. Managing director Michael Mack aims to create new entertainment experiences with the company, with MackMedia intending to lead the world of Europa-Park into a digital future.

Michael Mack joined the management of the MACK Rides parent company in Waldkirch as early as 2005.

In 2008, Michael Mack was elected to the board of the Association of German Leisure Parks and Leisure Companies (VDFU).

In January 2010, Michael Mack was appointed to the European Board of the IAAPA (International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions).

Since 2011 he has been a member of the Liseberg Applause Award Board of Governors.

Michael Mack has been a partner in VR Coaster, a start-up for the integration of virtual worlds into the business areas of the Baden family-owned company (Europa-Park and MACK Rides), since 2015.

In February 2016, the business magazine ‘Capital’ honoured Michael Mack as ranking among the ‘Young Elite – The Top 40 Entrepreneurs Under 40 Years’.

Michael Mack has been managing partner of Europa-Park since May 2016 and is now mainly responsible for Research & Development, Marketing, Sales & Digital and IT as well as the subsidiaries MackNeXT, Mack Animation, VR Coaster and MACK Rides. In addition, Michael Mack is responsible for the development and integration of new business areas.

In summer 2016, he was awarded the CampdenFB Award as ‘Top Next Generation Entrepreneur’.

In 2018, Mack Animation was founded, forming an even closer partnership between Ambient Entertainment and MackMedia.

In 2018, Michael Mack also founded the first foreign subsidiary in the company’s history.

Due to his many services supporting the Franco-German friendship, as well as his active commitment to the cultural exchange between the nations, Michael Mack was appointed French Honorary Consul in 2018. As part of this honorary position, Michael Mack works to strengthen and promote cross-border cooperation and friendship between the two countries.

In 2018, Michael Mack founded the subsidiary MackNeXT, which is dedicated to the development of innovative multimedia productions, and also promotes creative minds and innovative talents in the fields of master planning and design.

In 2019, Michael Mack was appointed to the university advisory board of the renowned university in his native city of Freiburg im Breisgau.

On 3rd February 2020 the ‘ahgz – Allgemeine Hotel- und Gastronomie-Zeitung’ (General Hotel and Gastronomy Magazine) awarded Thomas, Michael and Ann-Kathrin Mack with the coveted ‘Hotelier of the Year’ industry award. This prestigious award honours outstanding achievements in the hotel industry.

YULLBE opened in September 2020: an independent attraction situated between the Rulantica water world and the 4* superior hotel ‘Krønasår’ at Europa-Park. MackNeXT and VR Coaster have developed the unique ‘Full Body Tracking Free Roaming VR Experience’ in cooperation with leading international designers and technology manufacturers.

In October 2020, the platform ‘Blooloop.com’, the world’s leading online network in the amusement park industry, selected Michael Mack as one of the 50 most important influencers in the industry.

In November 2020, Michael Mack and MackNeXT were named ‘Innovator of the Year’ by ‘Die Deutsche Wirtschaft’ magazine. Just one year after it was founded, the young subsidiary received the largest audience award in German economy.

Michael Mack has been married to Miriam Mack since 2010. They have two sons together.

Von Achterbahn bis Animation: Digitalisierung als Treiber einer Branche (Pioniere wie wir – der Kienbaum Podcast, 02/2023)
“A mixture of laissez-fair mentality of the French paired with German engineering”: This is how Michael Mack describes the Europa-Park in Rust, 3km from the French border…