Consumer >> CEO Interviews >> April 7, 2003
ART LEVITT III is President and Chief Executive Officer of
Fandango, Inc. With 15 years of experience in the entertainment
industry and an emphasis on brand building and themed
entertainment, Mr. Levitt joined Fandango as President and CEO in
July 2000. From 1996 to 2000, he served as President of Disney
Regional Entertainment, a division of The Walt Disney Company
that created entertainment concepts for metropolitan and suburban
markets. Mr. Levitt was responsible for such businesses as
DisneyQuest, an indoor interactive theme park; and ESPN Zone, a
sports, dining and entertainment complex. Mr. Levitt also served
as President and CEO of Hard Rock Caf International, where he
managed the global business, including 20 new restaurants in
South America, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. Prior to his
three-year tenure at Hard Rock Caf, Mr. Levitt was Vice
President, Resorts and Special Projects, for The Walt Disney
Company. He oversaw the operation of Walt Disney World Resort's
nightlife and entertainment complex, Pleasure Island, as well as
the Disney Village Marketplace, the Disney Village Resort and the
Disney Vacation Club. Mr. Levitt also played a key role in the
development of Disney's Boardwalk Resort. He also served as Vice
President of Corporate Projects for Disney, reporting to the
Chairman and CEO. Among his philanthropic commitments, Mr. Levitt
serves on the Boards of the Walden Woods Foundation, the Elton
John AIDS Foundation, the Neil Bogart Memorial Fund (a division
of the T.J. Martell Foundation) and the Hebrew Union College. He
attended South Hampton College of Long Island University, where
he received a Bachelor's degree in Biology. He also completed the
Management Development Program at Harvard University. Profile
Inc. and an overview of things as they are now?
Mr. Levitt: The rough history is that Fandango was formed in
March 2000. It
