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Austin Herd Rugby White_White_on_Trans.j

GM - BUSINESS OPERATIONS

CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER

Elite Rugby Management

July 2017 - December 2022

Austin, Texas

 

Elite Rugby Management owns a  Professional Rugby team based in Austin Texas, and we are excited to bring Professional Rugby to Central Texas.

Our Purpose: To be the epicenter of rugby in Central and South Texas and embody the sport’s inclusive ethos.  To set a professional standard in sports entertainment, embracing and empowering our community.  To harness high-performance pathways to National and Olympic-level men’s & women’s rugby programs.  All while encouraging and growing participation at a grassroots level and promoting rugby’s unique core values.

Our Values: Respect, Character, Pride, Enjoyment & Inclusivity

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The team operated under the following names: Austin Elite Rugby (2017 - 2018), Austin Herd (2019),  AG Rugby (2020 - 2022)

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RUGBY MARKETING CONSULTANT

Major League Rugby 

August 2016 - March 2018 

 

Major League Rugby is the USA’s first Professional Rugby League comprising of twelve of America's top rugby teams. MLR is an initiative driven by existing USA Rugby member teams in partnership with private investors who believe that American rugby can thrive at the highest levels: as a commercial enterprise; as an influential player on the international scene; and as a participation sport at the youth and senior level.

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OWNER

bale&barrel 

January 2015 - present

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bale&barrel is a niche marketing consultation business, helping brands unlock their true potential 

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MARKETING CONSULTANT

Austin Huns Rugby 

June 2016 - July 2017

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​The Austin Huns Rugby Football Club was founded in 1972 as one of the first rugby clubs of its kind in central Texas. For more than 40 years, the Huns have developed an organization and a culture that have produced winning teams, first class coaches and players, and a training and competition facility that is unmatched by any other in the region. The club is dedicated to developing athletes for national and international rugby competition, who are also constructive and contributing members of the community. The Austin Huns take pride in their contributions to improving the City of Austin and the culture of athleticism in the United States. 

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MARKETING MANAGER

The Sharks

January 2009 - December 2014

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The Sharks have, over the past decade, evolved from a provincial rugby brand to a commercially recognized global sporting brand of international acclaim, promoting an intrinsic lifestyle value as well as fashion, entertainment and sporting aspiration.

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In my role, my main focus was on managing sponsorship and other key commercial relationships through development and deployment of ROI metrics, defining the brands and marketing strategy.

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REGIONAL SALES AND SPORTS MARKETING MANAGER

Comair Limited 

British Airways | kulula.com

February 1999 - December 2009

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Comair Limited was founded in 1946, Comair Limited is managed and owned by South Africans through its listing on the JSE. Comair been operating successfully within southern Africa for more than six decades with an internationally recognized safety record. Since 1996, they have been operating local

and regional services within southern African under the British Airways livery as part of a licence agreement with British Airways Plc and launched South Africa's first low-fare airline, kulula.com in 2001.

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17th Annual American Business Awards Bronze Stevie - Marketing Executive of the Year  

2019 Sports Event Planners to Watch - readers Choice Award

Achieving Super Brand Status (One of the most recognized brands in South Africa) 

KZN Top Brand 2013 

Sharkie - Mention d'Honneur 2012 (Federation Internationale Cinema Television Sportifs)

Sharkie - Mention d'Honneur 2011 (Federation Internationale Cinema Television Sportifs)

Launch of first mobile rugby game in South Africa 

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Master of Business Administration (In Progress)

Edinburgh Business School

 

Professional Diploma in Digital Marketing

Digital Marketing Institute (Dublin, Ireland)

 

Rugby Business Management Certificate 

Sports Management Worldwide (London, UK / Portland, Oregon, USA) 

 

Certificate in Operational Sales and Marketing

Institute of Sales and Marketing Management (London) 

 

Diploma: Fine Art (1st year complete)

Pretoria Technikon 

 

Matric 

Benoni High School

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2019 MIKE ABLETT | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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