Leisurecorp appoints David Collins as Director of Sponsorship

Collins, who joins from Octagon where he was Vice President - Golf, has over a decade of experience working in the sports marketing industry. His new role will be to procure and manage relationships with premium global partners for the Dubai World Championship, the world's richest golf tournament which will take place at Leisurecorp's flagship development, Jumeirah Golf Estates, from 19th - 22nd November 2009.

The Dubai World Championship represents the climax of The Race to Dubai, the season-long competition which features 53 tournaments in 28 destinations and replaces The European Tour Order of Merit. These are the key elements of the partnership between The European Tour and Leisurecorp that is changing the face of professional golf.

Collins spent eight years at Octagon working with sponsor clients across a variety of sports, specialising in golf having previously held similar roles at other leading agencies including TWI/IMG. As Vice President - Golf, he worked with the Octagon's global management team as well as with key golf personnel and clients worldwide. His primary responsibility was to devise global golf sponsorship strategies which involved handling major rights negotiations, talent procurement and planning activation programmes.

This experience has allowed him to develop solid relationships with golf's key stakeholders including governing bodies, players and their representatives, the media and sponsors.

Alan Rogers, Leisurecorp Chief Executive Officer, said:

"David has a creative, client-led approach to golf sponsorship. This will be fundamental to us developing first-class global partnership programmes for the premium sponsors that the Dubai World Championship, one of the world's most exciting golf tournaments, will attract."

David Collins added, "The Dubai World Championship presents one of the most exclusive sponsorship opportunities in sport. The Race to Dubai is already creating headlines across the globe, which is reflected by strong levels of interest in many sections of the corporate community. We will seek to capitalise on this excitement and anticipation by providing a select number of premium partners with access to the richest golf tournament the world has ever seen, as well as our associated golf properties and a schedule of benefits that transcends traditional sponsorship in being a key part of a new era in the sport."