Jochen Schenk gives his blessing to the new duo, Jannik Sinner and Michael Ranalter
HC Pustertal bids farewell to a key figure as Michael Ranalter joins Jannik Sinner’s team. This leaves a significant void for the Wolves on the organizational front. In recent years, Ranalter has played a central role in relations between the club, sponsors, and partners, gradually becoming a key figure within the HCP organization.
In Brunico, however, his departure is viewed with satisfaction due to this new professional opportunity. “We’re all very happy that he’s been given this unique opportunity,” commented HCP CEO Jochen Schenk. The club has already begun the search for a replacement, posting a job listing for the vacant position. The goal is to complete the search quickly, given that the new ICE Hockey League season is approaching.
Ranalter, a native of San Lorenzo di Sebato, brings with him a professional background built over time with dedication and versatility. Before entering the world of hockey, he spent thirteen seasons playing handball, racking up 224 appearances in Serie A with SSV Brixen. After ending his competitive career in the summer of 2019, he never severed his ties to the sport, gradually steering his career toward the marketing and sponsorship sector. This path also has its roots in entrepreneurship: as early as 2013, after attending the Free University of Bolzano, he founded the clothing brand PNRS Clothing.
At HC Pustertal, he officially held the position of Head of Marketing & Sponsoring, but his day-to-day responsibilities extended far beyond the formal scope of the role. He guided the club through one of the most significant phases of its recent history: from competing in the Alps Hockey League to the move to the new Intercable Arena, from joining the ICE Hockey League all the way to last season’s championship final. It was an extraordinary journey, one he experienced from the inside and helped shape through his work building relationships with sponsors, partners, and stakeholders.
Now, a radically different chapter is beginning for him. According to a report on the Sportnews.bz website, Ranalter will join the professional organization of Jannik Sinner, the world’s number one player. Although Sinner himself has chosen not to make any public statements about this new venture, his profile suggests that Ranalter’s new role will focus on areas related to marketing, sponsorships, and communications. These skills, honed at venues in Bolzano, Klagenfurt, Salzburg, and Vienna, will now be put to use on the most prestigious stages of the global tennis circuit: from Melbourne to Paris, from Wimbledon to New York.
His arrival further strengthens the South Tyrolean presence on Sinner’s staff. Manager Alex Vittur—a trusted confidant—and Alex Meliss have long been working alongside the champion from Sesto. Ranalter’s arrival thus consolidates a core group of professionals from the province who are helping to build and manage the image of one of Italy’s most famous athletes on the international sports scene.
