Octagon to market the Italian Olympic Committee

Octagon, the sports marketing agency, has been appointed by the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) to market and sell its sponsorship opportunities. It is the first time CONI has appointed a retained sponsorship agency.

The win comes just weeks after the agency’s head of games marketing Bob Heussner relocated to Octagon’s London office from the US to bolster the team working on Olympic-related accounts.

Heussner has more than 20 years’ experience providing strategic planning for corporate sponsors, local organising committees and bid committees. He says the Olympic Games provides an unequalled opportunity for sponsors and governing bodies.

“The Olympic marketing landscape is dynamic, and much more can and needs to be done across all marketing platforms for rights-holders and sponsors to meaningfully engage their fans and customers,” adds Heussner.

Heussner comes from an advertising background and was vice-president at Ammirati & Puris in New York for eight years. He has also been president of General Motors EventWorks, where he was responsible for the carmaker’s sports and entertainment sponsorship programmes.