Rohan Sawyer is leaving his role as Queensland Rugby League (QRL) CEO to head Bastion Experience in Queensland as state managing director.
Sawyer started at the QRL in 2018 as chief operating officer and then became CEO in October, 2021.
“I would like to thank the QRL Board and the amazing staff we have across the state for making my time at the QRL a rewarding experience and I wish the QRL continued success in the future,” Sawyer said.
He has also held roles as strategy and co-managing partner at Events, Sports, and Entertainment (ESE), and as head of commercial and marketing for both the 2017 Rugby League World Cup and the Australian Turf Club.
Sawyer has also held investment strategy roles with Goldman Sachs and UBS and, more recently, sat on the advisory panel for the Brisbane-based crypto exchange, Coinstash.
Jack Watts, Bastion’s CEO: “Firstly, we love Queensland. It has been a long held ambition to build our fully integrated, independent agency model in Queensland. We started last year with the acquisition of Queensland PR and Social Agency Promedia, now Bastion Amplify, and continue our investment in the state with Rohan and the launch of Bastion Experience.
"We believe our long held reputation and work in Sport and Lifestyle will be critical to our growth in the State, and I don’t believe there is any better executive in Sport than Rohan Sawyer. We’re thrilled to have him on board to lead our commercial, sponsorship and experiential services in Queensland.”
Sawyer: “I am thrilled to join a market leader and innovator in the industry, with a proven track record of delivering on brands and rights holders' needs to drive commercial growth. I look forward to contributing my expertise and working with the talented team to deliver significant benefits to brands and their customers. Queensland is fast becoming the centre of Australian sport and major events, with the road to Olympics, Brisbane 2032 an exciting opportunity for all brands in the State.”
Bastion Experience’s expansion follows the launch of Bastion Amplify (Bastion’s PR, influencer marketing, content, and social media brand), into the Queensland market with the strategic acquisition of Gold Coast-based full service PR firm Promedia in November 2022.
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