Early Life
Rocco Benito Commisso was born in Marina di Gioiosa Ionica, Calabria, Italy, on November 25, 1949. At the age of 12, he immigrated to the United States. He attended Mount Saint Michael Academy in the Bronx.
Education and Early Career
Commisso received a full scholarship to Columbia University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering in 1971 and an MBA from Columbia Business School in 1975. While at Columbia, he was co-captain of the soccer team and president of the business school student body. His early career included roles at Pfizer Inc., Chase Manhattan Bank, and Royal Bank of Canada.
Rise to Success
From 1986 to 1995, Commisso served as an executive vice president, CFO, and director of Cablevision Industries Corporation. In 1995, he founded Mediacom Communications Corporation to acquire cable systems in underserved communities. Mediacom went public in 2000 and was taken private again in 2011.
Key Business Strategies
Commisso focused on acquiring and upgrading cable systems in smaller markets, taking advantage of lower prices and less competition. He invested heavily in infrastructure and expanded broadband services. Commisso made a long-term contrarian bet by taking Mediacom private, consolidating his control.
Philanthropy
Commisso has contributed to various educational and community initiatives, including providing scholarships through Mediacom's World Class Scholars Program. He also established the Rocco B. Commisso American Dream Fund at Mount Saint Michael Academy. In 2013, Columbia University named its soccer stadium the Rocco B. Commisso Soccer Stadium in recognition of his contributions.