The ONSIDE and Marketing Institute Ireland event “Who Won Sponsorship Series 2023” takes place this morning at the Aviva Stadium with a great lineup of speakers set to educate and inform.
The theme of this year’s Who Won Sponsorship event is Trailblazers Shaping the Future of Sponsorship.
It will feature segments including Rugby Revolutionaries with Gerry Nixon, Head of Sponsorship & Insights at Vodafone and Padraig Power, Chief Commercial Officer at the IRFU, together with Kalle Kauppila, Group Director of Revenue and Fan Growth at World Rugby. They will bring unique insights into the world of commercial and sponsorship involvement in the sport of Rugby and are likely to discuss the impact of the recent Rugby World Cup.
“Redefining Consumer Experience through Sponsorship” and “Breaking Barriers and Forging Alliances for Women in Sport” will be two more of the discussion areas featuring Tom Boyle, VP Global Partnerships Marketing and Operations at City Football Group / Manchester City Football Club, Rory Sheridan, Head of Partnerships at Diageo Ireland, Louise Cassidy, Director of Marketing and Communication at the FAI as well as Eileen Leahy, Marketing Activation Lead at Cadburys.
There will be a fireside chat with Brian O’Driscoll discussing The Dynamic Role of Brand Ambassadors in Modern Sponsorship.
RTÉ will share a broadcaster’s perspective on how sponsorships scored in 2023 and the most popular sponsorships among the general public and the industry itself will also be revealed.
“2023 is once again proving to be a very strong year for sponsorship investment with an estimated €212 million being spent by brands looking for that competitive edge”, commented John Trainor, Founder and CEO, ONSIDE.
“We are looking forward to an exciting event where there will be a wealth of expertise and insights shared with renowned speakers and panellists from industry, Irish and international-based sponsors and rightsholders, and marketing professionals as well as an in-depth review of sports, entertainment, ambassador, broadcast, and cause-related events,” added Shane McGonigle, CEO of the Marketing Institute of Ireland.
“RTÉ is delighted to be involved with this event again. Sponsorship enables brands to forge a meaningful, authentic connection with sports fans,” said Declan McBennett, RTÉ Head of Sport.
“It also ensures that key sporting events remain accessible and free for everyone to enjoy, regardless of age, demographic or background, which is integral to RTÉ’s public service remit. I look forward to hearing the speakers’ insights on the panel, who are at the forefront of this thriving industry and continually driving it forward.”
