Meet the MBA Class of '27: Mark "Rennie" Merhige

Mark “Rennie” Merhige
Richmond, VA

Rennie Merhige is a sports-media development executive with a track record of building premium unscripted and documentary slates. At Meadowlark Media, he directed all TV development, pitching 30+ projects and expanding the slate by 250% while negotiating 20 co-production and IP deals; he also led multi-time-zone teams on projects in development at Netflix, History, Sky, and Amazon. Previously at CNN Original Series, he served as a primary intake point for incoming ideas and coordinated across internal teams to advance greenlight decisions. Earlier at Railsplitter Pictures, he negotiated talent and IP agreements, sourced new concepts, and created pitch materials—contributing to multiple series greenlights and rapid slate growth. His goal is to sharpen his financial and strategic skills and continue to lead development and partnerships for major enterprises.

What work or internship experience are you most proud of?
I started my career in the mailroom at William Morris Endeavor in New York, most recently serving as a Senior Development Executive at Meadowlark Media. I’ve been fortunate to collaborate with some of the most talented people in sports and media. What I’m most proud of is helping create opportunities for stories and voices that might not have otherwise been heard. I also love seeing ideas that start on paper evolve into films and series on the screen.

Why are you pursuing an MBA?
I chose to pursue my MBA to sharpen the skills I needed to advance and to position myself as a stronger candidate across industries. The experience will give me the tools and confidence to take on new opportunities and leadership roles.

What attracted you to Freeman?
What drew me to Freeman was the small class sizes and the chance to build real relationships with my professors and classmates. I was also attracted to Tulane’s deep connection with New Orleans. Community matters a lot to me, and I’m excited to not only grow as a business leader in the classroom but also find meaningful ways to contribute to Tulane and the greater New Orleans community.

Where do you hope to be in 5 years?
My goal in five years is to be leading partnerships that make a difference in business and the community...and hopefully sitting in the good seats at Yulman.

What do you like to do in your spare time?
When I'm not in class I am usually hanging out with my wife, Julia, our 1-year-old, Jones, and our dog, Hudson. We all like to go hiking and fishing together. This past spring I coached youth lacrosse in Richmond, VA (Go Marlins!).

What’s a fun fact about you?
I was once lost at sea with my father-in-law.