Hank J. Ratner is vice chairman of Madison Square Garden and its many entities, which include “The World’s Most Famous Arena,” professional sports teams, entertainment properties, television networks, New York’s historic Radio City Music Hall and the Hartford Civic Center. Mr. Ratner also serves as vice chairman of Cablevision Systems Corporation, the owner of MSG.

As MSG’s vice chairman, Mr. Ratner directs the Garden’s overall growth strategy and day-to-day operations. He also serves as alternate governor to the National Basketball Association and the National Hockey League on behalf of the New York Knicks and Rangers.

A long-time Cablevision executive, Mr. Ratner helps to set corporate direction and strategy for the company. In addition, he is the primary executive responsible for overseeing major business partnerships and transactions, and works closely with Cablevision Chief Executive Officer and MSG Chairman James L. Dolan on the company’s overall advancement.

Prior to being named MSG and Cablevision vice chairman, Mr. Ratner served as vice chairman of Rainbow Media Holdings, the programming subsidiary of Cablevision. At Rainbow, he helped lead the executive management team that has directed AMC, IFC, Bravo, WE tv, fuse, Mag Rack, News 12 Networks, Rainbow Advertising Sales Corporation and Rainbow Sports, which today includes Fox Sports Net regional networks in New England and San Francisco.

Throughout his tenure, Mr. Ratner has been influential in formulating and implementing management activity and strategic direction for Rainbow, Cablevision and MSG. In 2005, he led Cablevision’s negotiations with Fox to restructure the ownership of assets held by Regional Programming Partners, a partnership between the two companies. This restructuring gave Cablevision, among other benefits, 100 percent ownership of MSG and its properties.

In addition, Mr. Ratner has a long history of managing Cablevision’s sports and entertainment programming rights and relationships, as well as its programming development efforts. In 2003, he was responsible for negotiating Rainbow’s sale of Bravo to NBC. He also played a primary role in the agreement between Rainbow and MGM, and the establishment and management of Rainbow’s long and fruitful partnership with NBC.

As a board member of “Garden of Dreams,” the non-profit that works closely with all areas of Madison Square Garden, Mr. Ratner has been a driving force behind the significant expansion of the charity’s programs, enhancing its commitment to make dreams come true for children in crisis. Through unforgettable projects, events and experiences with the Knicks, Rangers, Liberty, MSG Entertainment and MSG Networks, Garden of Dreams is dedicated to brightening the lives of children facing enormous obstacles, including terminal and chronic illness, homelessness, poverty, hunger, abuse and tragedy.

Mr. Ratner joined Cablevision as assistant general counsel in 1987. A year later, he moved to Rainbow Media, where he oversaw the programming pioneer’s legal and business affairs departments in various capacities. Named Rainbow’s chief operating officer in 1998, Mr. Ratner was then promoted to vice chairman of Rainbow Media in 2002 before moving to Cablevision and MSG later that year.

Previously, Mr. Ratner was an associate with the law firm of Sullivan & Cromwell. He received a bachelor’s degree and doctorate of law with distinction from Emory University.