Robert Gill

Executive Director

In September 2003 Bob founded BrandAdvantage with the specific goal of creating Brand and Consumer sponsorship Connection Company delivering outcomes through innovation and commercially compelling thinking.

Bob has over 30 years experience in international advertising communications and sponsorship and has pioneered the development of a unique set of sponsorship evaluation and measurement tools which are core to the business he leads today.

Bob is a serial business creator, founding Carat New Zealand, media and sponsor services group and held the regional position of Area Director Asia Pacific for Carat's sponsor services group. Prior to Carat New Zealand, Bob was a founding director of Strategic Media, an integrated communications company providing strategic advice, planning, media buying and marketing services (including sports marketing, sponsorship and hospitality services). In 2000, with over $80m in billings was sold to Carat a member of the Aegis Group Plc.

Bob was also co-founder and chief executive of international sports marketing company, Pascoe Nally International NZ, and founding director of Mainstream Advertising, which he sold to FCB Worldwide. Major event experience includes the Rugby World Cup, Commonwealth Games, the 1994 US Soccer World Cup, the World Expo in Spain for the NZ Govt, the Americas Cup in 2000 village, the HSBC Global Education Challenge, Commonwealth Games in Australia one of Australias single largest sponsorship undertakings. Bobs companies have represented the NZ Olympic Committee and the New Zealand Government on their 150 years celebration and delivered Major event hospitality Summer Olympics, Rugby World Cups, and FIFA events programmes.

He has work for many Brands Categories and Rights Properties, Airlines, Automotive, Finance, Food, Beer and Wine, Heath Care, Central Govt, Local Govt, Beauty, Travel, Telecommunications, Netball, Sailing, Rugby, Motor Racing, Tennis and Charities and Causes

Toni Talijancich

Projects, Analytics & Communications Manger

Toni is a communications specialist that has experience in handling public relations, event management, brand marketing and assisting with communications in business development. She is dedicated to the fields of communications; and has worked in as a private consultant for several years before joining the BrandAdvantage team in October 2012.

Toni delivers and implements strategic communications, project management and key analytics. This includes developing and delivering information to stakeholders and clients, by reviewing strategic communications, public relations and marketing plans, facilitating design components, content development and managing text content via various distribution channels including (web, social and digital media).

Working in collaboration with the Executive Director, she oversees multiple projects that include the setup and improvement of businesses by managing the strategic, operational and technological aspects of each project. As a part of the key deliverables, analytical data is provided to assist in making the most appropriate and strategic decisions for the company. This is achieved through data collation, distribution, keeping information up to date, developing strategies and procedures to increase revenue; and establishing and maintaining strong relations with all members of the company and its clients.

Sean Farhmand

BA Analyser & Measurement Services Executive

Sean has joined BrandAdvantage as part of our Measurements Services team to support the service delivery of BA Analyser BrandAdvantages SaaS product delivering the full management, rating, scoring, evaluating reporting and communication of sponsorship applications for companies.

Sean comes from a strong background in the events and entertainment business and today still runs a very well established Music and Entertainment business.

Sean has for over 13 years created and managed all specs of events and live entertainment for both domestic and international Acts and has a strong understanding of activation of product and brand engagement programmes and how to drive and measure those.

His strength in event delivery and activation for brands, his event creation skills and his understanding of computer systems will support the companys overall product and service delivery.

Jillian Gill

Strategy & Delivery

Jillian began her career in advertising specialising in television production before entering the sport and sponsorship market to work on the development of funding and engagement programmes for the 1990 Commonwealth Games in New Zealand and New Zealand Olympic and Commonwealth Games Team fundraising.

Jillian was recognized by management for exceeding expectations and was re-located to the companys New York office where she spent 8 years working on major events such as the 1994 Commonwealth Games in Canada, and the World University Games in New York.

Jillian then ran her own consultancy based in North Carolina, where she worked for the State Sports & Economic Development Office and for the United States Olympic Committees Presidents Office developing and running initiatives and activities leading up to the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. Jillian has travelled and worked extensively in the Sponsorship & Marketing area before returning to New Zealand.

Jillian remains truly passionate about sponsorship particularly in the delivery and bottom line performance, where she continually tries to improve management reporting systems enabling far more effective choices to be made by todays smart marketing & sponsorship leaders.

John Elliot

Business Partner Major Sports and Events Consultant.

Following an extensive background in consumer brand marketing John has been involved in the sports and events marketing industry for over 25 years.

His experience and hands-on involvement across all facets of Consumer and Brand Marketing, and the International Major Events Industry are fully comprehensive. This includes Strategic Marketing, Sponsorship and Evaluation, Event Management, Advertising and Promotion, Communications (public relations, publicity and media management), Corporate Hospitality, Incentives, Talent Management, Licensing and Merchandising, and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

Career highlights have included leading the BrandAdvantage Qantas Sponsorship and Events business consulting for 5 years. This involves an extensive sports, arts, ambassadors and charities portfolio under the Sharing the Spirit and Frequent Flyer program. Experiential marketing programs, delivering sponsorship activation and leveraging initiatives for the national football teams Qantas Wallabies (Rugby) and Qantas Socceroos (Soccer).

Working with the BrandAdvantage NAB Partnership program on the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games and developing the extensive activation and leveraging program that was successfully delivered. This included a world class hospitality program known as Club NAB, and was one of the largest sponsorship programs ever undertaken in Australia.

Leading the FIFA World Cup 2010 commercial program in Cape Town, South Africa for the V&A Waterfront (Dubai World), and consumer activation and leveraging programs for 6 major FIFA World Cup Partners (Coca Cola, Visa, Adidas, Hyundai, Sony and MTN) Leading the FIFA World Cup 2010 commercial program in Cape Town, South Africa for the V&A Waterfront (Dubai World), and consumer activation and leveraging programs for 6 major FIFA World Cup Partners (Coca Cola, Visa, Adidas, Hyundai, Sony and MTN)

John as a director of Future Sport and Entertainment (FSE) were the appointed Project Directors for the Special Olympics 2013 Asia Pacific Games. This followed the successful bid process which was led and managed by FSE in winning the international bid for the City of Newcastle and the Hunter. This was the largest sports and community event in Newcastle/Hunter ever staged.

Tim Andrew

Business Partner

A serial entrepreneur and experienced member of the Australian sponsorship community, Tim is the CEO of enterprise technology platform company Split It Pty Ltd, co-founder of Localz.co and advisor to VentureScout. During his career, Tim has been the sponsorship sales lead for Cricket Australia and ran the sponsorship portfolio for National Australia Bank including their landmark Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games program.

Ann-Michel Greenwood

Business Partner

A seasoned financial services executive, Ann-Michel has succeeded in a variety of product and sales roles while at National Australia Bank before pursuing a more agile working environment as the Customer Experience and Delivery Lead for BetterBills.com. Ann-Michel is passionate about helping enterprise customers find more efficient ways to engage with their customers and communities.

Stuart A Dwight

Director & Founder

A Man with many Hats and Passionate about Music, Events and Entertainment

Smart Moves is BrandAdvantages lead partner in event creation, leveraging and activation. The core skills include; Sponsorship Leverage & Activation, Event Management, Entertainment Management / Agency Corporate Hospitality Management, Professional MC, Awards / Corporate Dinners Sports Tours, Product Launches / Store Openings, Fundraising Concepts and Activations Festival Director / Management, all built on 35 years experience.

As a taste of Stuart experience, the following are just some of the major events and activities he and his team have worked on, or delivered; Volvo Ocean Race Entertainment, NZs Peoples Choice Sports Awards, International Tennis- ASB Classic and Heineken Open Auckland Tennis MC + Live Event Producer, Gisborne 1999 Millennium Celebrations, over 30 major Fashion Shows, National Conferences , Sports Awards - Rugby, Football, Squash, Tennis, Basketball, Triathlon, CRM (Cause Related Marketing) - Fundraiser Events, Corporate Awards Nights, PWC Top 100 Clients Dinner Americas Cup. V8 Supercars, NZ Ironman, Music in the Park, Golf Tournament Event Director (10+) Corporate and Sports Days,Professional MC (hundreds of events), Sponsor Relationship Manager of the NZ Breakers.

Bernard Braithwaite

Director Information and Analytics

An ex-Sales and Marketing Director, Bernard has more than 20 years experience working in a wide range of businesses and industries in both New Zealand and Australia.

Data planning and structured challenging thinking are his particular areas of expertise. Media Co clients benefit from his structural approach to business processes and controls in managing and developing data to create sophisticated analytics solutions.

Bernards over-riding focus is, to deliver information and insights that drive an unfair competitive advantage for our clients.

Simon Gentry

Director Strategy and Business

Simon has more than 20 years of marketing and media experience in both the UK and NZ. An ex-Marketing Director, he has a strong record of innovation and business improvement and understands media marketing from a clients point of view.

His key strengths include his commercial acumen, diverse marketing and advertising knowledge and his ability to simplify.

With his flair for new business, Simon is often the first point of contact for clients. He believes in, creating advertising and marketing solutions that grow shareholder value.

Clive Reed

Director Media

When it comes to smarts, they dont come much smarter than Clive. With more than 30 years in the business in both the UK and NZ, he has bought more than $1.5b of media worldwide.

Clive is a recognised industry expert on truly global and local brands. He adeptly manages and implements trading and buying on behalf of Media Co clients. His industry knowledge, negotiation skill and focus on the enjoyment of media detail is the stuff of legend.

Clive says, it's my job to create media strategies which drive fantastic commercial outcomes. Part of that is making sure our clients pay a fair price which creates value for their business.