Bastion Experience, the strategic, brand, sponsorship and experiential arm of Bastion, has set its sights on Queensland, with the appointment of Rohan Sawyer as their new managing director for the region.

Sawyer’s previous role as the CEO for Queensland Rugby League allowed him to demonstrate his ability to lead a successful organisation with a focus on growth, development, and innovation.

His previous experience also includes roles as strategy and co-managing partner at Events, Sports, and Entertainment (ESE), as well as head of commercial and marketing for both the 2017 Rugby League World Cup and the Australian Turf Club.

Sawyer’s expertise extends beyond the sports and entertainment industry, having also held investment strategy roles with Goldman Sachs and UBS.

Commenting on his appointment, Sawyer, said: “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 center of Australian sport and major events, with the road to Olympics, Brisbane 2032 an exciting opportunity for all brands in the State,” he said.

Bastion CEO, Jack Watts, added: “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,” he said.

With Sawyer’s appointment, Bastion Experience will bring its full suite of integrated communications services to southeast Queensland under the agency’s ‘Think Wide’ model.

The model brings together the best-in-class offerings and experts communications disciplines, including research and insights, brand and creative, advertising, reputation, digital and customer experience, sponsorship and experiential, film and content production.