Leinster Rugby has confirmed the appointment of Matthew Dowling as the club’s new Chief Commercial Officer. He will take up the position ahead of the start of the new season in two weeks’ time.
Dowling has over 20 years’ experience in sales and marketing and was most recently the Global Head of Creative and Digital Sales and Strategy with international pharma giant Novartis.
Before that he worked with Amdocs, a global software and digital transformation company, as Head of Marketing for Western Europe promoting their offering to a range of leading telecoms operators.
In addition to telecoms and pharma, he has worked across consumer electronics, retail and commercial print in a variety of roles since achieving his Commerce Degree in UCD and his Masters in Business Studies from the Dublin Business School.
“Matthew was the leading candidate in a highly competitive field of applicants, and we are delighted to have secured his appointment,” said Leinster CEO Shane Dowling.
“He is a passionate rugby man who played the game competitively through school and in the AIL with Terenure College, and he brings extensive commercial experience to the role having held a variety of senior and international sales and marketing roles across various industries with the likes of Telefonica (O2), Amdocs, Novartis and others.”
“Matthew’s appointment is the latest addition to the commercial and marketing team here in Leinster and we look forward to welcoming him to UCD in the coming weeks.”
“I am really excited at the opportunity to use my professional experience to help drive the commercial success of Leinster Rugby, a brand and a team that I have supported for many years,” added Dowling.
“In my experience to date across several sectors, I have led many teams and my main focus has always been to achieve commercial success while driving a positive team culture.
“I am honoured to be joining the team and am really looking forward to getting stuck in.”
Dowling’s appointment follows the recent additions of Bernardo Santos as Domestic Rugby Videographer and of Anouk Espiasse Cabau who has joined Leinster Rugby as Sponsorship Executive in advance of the 2023/24 season, having previously worked with the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games Organising Committee.
