AusLeisure

Specialist sport and entertainment agency Gemba has announced three senior appointments with the promotion of Craig Roberts to Head of Strategy and Insights, the arrival of a new Insights Divisional Manager, Haydn Northover, and new Venues & Facilities Divisional Head, Hylke Hellinga.

Effective immediately, Roberts will lead the Insights Division along with his existing management of the agency’s Strategy and Venues & Facilities Divisions. Over the past two years, Roberts has worked closely with the insights team for both projects and new business pitches. He enters the role with a solid understanding of Gemba’s existing insights business and a perspective on where the agency can take this central pillar of the organisation.

Joining the Gemba leadership team as Insights Divisional Manager, Northover arrives at Gemba after working in research agencies including Nielsen, Kantar and Millward Brown. Northover has also been involved in product development projects focussed on behavioural measurements and neuroscience. He will be responsible for the delivery of customised research projects and the ongoing development of Gemba’s Proprietary Insights program. His role also includes management of a global insights program for Turnstile, the agency’s sponsorships platform.

With over 15 years’ experience advising on sport and cultural institution infrastructure projects, Hylke Hellinga joins Gemba from his native Holland, where he was recently behind major football stadium and leisure precinct redevelopment projects. Relocating to Australia, Hellinga brings his international insights and experience to Australian projects. He is set to refresh the agency’s Venues & Facilities Division, which specialises in ensuring sport, entertainment and cultural buildings are innovative, sustainable, liveable, fit-for-purpose and financially viable.

Commenting on the recent hires, Gemba Chief Executive and Director, Rob Mills stated "providing strategic and commercial consulting for rights holders, broadcasters and government around sport and entertainment, Craig’s leadership has been instrumental in strengthening our expertise around digital, data and broadcast, as well as delivering insights and strategy for sports, broadcasters and venues in Australia, New Zealand, China, Singapore and the UK.

“Tracking fans’ connections with sports and entertainment, Haydn will continue to build out our consumer research and insights program to provide our clients with a better understanding of how Australians and New Zealanders connect with their sporting passions. I’m also confident that Hylke’s specific expertise and passion for environmentally sustainable infrastructure will mean he excels in delivering our clients the best strategic infrastructure advice as he resets and strengthens our Venues & Facilities Division.”

Images: The Gemba team (top) and Craig Roberts (below).

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