Mark Arena
{{Short description|Australian businessman}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Mark Arena
| image =
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| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1984|9|28|df=y}}
| birth_place = Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| death_date =
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| education = Sacred Heart College, Edith Cowan University
| occupation = {{ubl|Businessman|Cyber security entrepreneur}}
| known_for = {{ubl|Co-founder of Intel 471|Owner of the Perth Wildcats}}
| employer =
| credits =
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Mark Arena (born 28 September 1984{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/wildcats/posts/pfbid0ohdFYP8KeJfKK1mWYuo3CztFdQeuNzqoMtZWaBJC6SVzmuULTAm5RbB99tEKr1Dfl|title=It's Mark Arena's birthday. Join us in wishing the boss a happy 40th!|work=facebook.com/wildcats|date=28 September 2024|access-date=28 September 2024}}) is an Australian businessman and cyber security entrepreneur. He co-founded Intel 471 in 2014 and became majority owner of the Perth Wildcats basketball team in 2024.
Early life
Arena was born in Perth, Western Australia.{{cite web|url=https://www.businessnews.com.au/Person/Mark-Arena|title=Mark Arena|work=Business News|access-date=15 August 2024|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240530045609/https://www.businessnews.com.au/Person/Mark-Arena|archive-date=30 May 2024}} He grew up in Greenwood, went to school at Sacred Heart College and then studied software engineering at Edith Cowan University.{{cite web|last=O'Donoghue|first=Craig|url=https://thewest.com.au/sport/perth-wildcats/perth-wildcats-owner-mark-arenas-remarkable-life-from-a-cyber-security-star-to-leading-a-nbl-powerhouse-c-15701675|title=Perth Wildcats owner Mark Arena's remarkable life from a cyber security star to leading a NBL powerhouse|work=The West Australian|date=14 August 2024|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240814120103/https://thewest.com.au/sport/perth-wildcats/perth-wildcats-owner-mark-arenas-remarkable-life-from-a-cyber-security-star-to-leading-a-nbl-powerhouse-c-15701675|archive-date=14 August 2024}}
Career
Arena started his career as a technical specialist for the Australian Federal Police in Canberra, where he tracked cyber criminals. He later moved to the Netherlands.
In 2014, Arena co-founded Intel 471, a company that tracked criminals and sold intelligence on cyber threats. He moved back to Perth after selling his company in 2023.{{cite web|last=Beyer|first=Mark|url=https://www.businessnews.com.au/article/Who-is-Mark-Arena|title=Who Is Mark Arena|work=Business News|date=30 May 2024|access-date=15 August 2024|url-access=subscription|quote="After nine years and a record-setting 2022, it was the right time to step away from my position as CEO," Mr Arena said at the time. The 39-year old has continued as a director of the business.}}
In May 2024, MT Arena Capital Investment Property Limited (MTACI) made a non-binding indicative offer for National Basketball League (NBL) club, the Perth Wildcats.{{cite web|url=https://nbl.com.au/news/wildcats-receive-40m-offer|title=Wildcats receive $40M offer|work=NBL.com.au|date=30 May 2024|access-date=15 August 2024|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240530043520/https://nbl.com.au/news/wildcats-receive-40m-offer|archive-date=30 May 2024}} In July 2024, Sports Entertainment Group agreed to sell 90% of their 95% shareholder ownership of the Wildcats to Arena at an estimated value of $40 million.{{cite web|url=https://www.wildcats.com.au/news/perth-wildcats-sale-agreement|title=Perth Wildcats sale agreement|work=Wildcats.com.au|date=11 July 2024|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240711024345/https://www.wildcats.com.au/news/perth-wildcats-sale-agreement|archive-date=11 July 2024}}{{cite web|last=Barrett|first=Jackson|url=https://thewest.com.au/sport/perth-wildcats/perth-tech-entrepreneur-mark-arena-purchases-perth-wildcats-from-craig-hutchisons-sen-teams-group--c-15314668|title=Perth tech entrepreneur Mark Arena purchases Perth Wildcats from Craig Hutchison's SEN Teams group|work=The West Australian|date=11 July 2024|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240711003344/https://thewest.com.au/sport/perth-wildcats/perth-tech-entrepreneur-mark-arena-purchases-perth-wildcats-from-craig-hutchisons-sen-teams-group--c-15314668|archive-date=11 July 2024}}{{cite web|last=Chadwick|first=Justin|url=https://thewest.com.au/sport/basketball/hutchison-sells-nbl-club-perth-wildcats-for-40m-c-15316918|title=Hutchison sells NBL club Perth Wildcats for $40m|work=The West Australian|date=11 July 2024|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240711060254/https://thewest.com.au/sport/basketball/hutchison-sells-nbl-club-perth-wildcats-for-40m-c-15316918|archive-date=11 July 2024}} On 14 August 2024, Arena officially became the majority owner of the Wildcats after purchasing 52.5 per cent of the club for $21 million. He will provide another payment of $15 million in 2026 to receive an extra 37.5 per cent and can then buy the entire club in 2028.{{cite web|url=https://www.wildcats.com.au/news/wildcats-welcome-mark-arena-as-new-owner|title=Wildcats welcome Mark Arena as new owner|work=Wildcats.com.au|date=14 August 2024|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240814034706/https://www.wildcats.com.au/news/wildcats-welcome-mark-arena-as-new-owner|archive-date=14 August 2024}}{{cite web|last=O'Donoghue|first=Craig|url=https://thewest.com.au/sport/perth-wildcats/mark-arena-is-the-new-majority-owner-of-nbls-perth-wildcats-after-he-completed-his-21-million-payment-c-15696379|title=Mark Arena is the new majority owner of NBL's Perth Wildcats after he completed his $21 million payment|work=The West Australian|date=14 August 2024|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240814024135/https://thewest.com.au/sport/perth-wildcats/mark-arena-is-the-new-majority-owner-of-nbls-perth-wildcats-after-he-completed-his-21-million-payment-c-15696379|archive-date=14 August 2024}}{{cite web|last=O'Donoghue|first=Craig|url=https://thewest.com.au/sport/perth-wildcats/new-perth-wildcats-owner-mark-arena-focused-on-winning-nbl-championships-instead-of-chasing-profits-c-15698413|title=New Perth Wildcats owner Mark Arena focused on winning NBL championships instead of chasing profits|work=The West Australian|date=14 August 2024|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240814055544/https://thewest.com.au/sport/perth-wildcats/new-perth-wildcats-owner-mark-arena-focused-on-winning-nbl-championships-instead-of-chasing-profits-c-15698413|archive-date=14 August 2024}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Perth Wildcats}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Arena, Mark}}
Category:Australian businesspeople