Sports and entertainment consultancy PTI strikes out in Australia
PTI Digital, the UK-based sports and entertainment consultancy, has expanded its footprint with the opening of a new office in the Australian city of Melbourne.
The new operation is being overseen by Corey Kirby, PTI’s chief operating officer, who is returning to his native country to become APAC general manager.
He has spent the last two years developing PTI’s UK business with clients including Bristol Sport, the parent company of English soccer’s Bristol City and other sports teams, another second-tier Championship club in Norwich City and Edgbaston Cricket Ground in Birmingham.
PTI also operates in Spain, with clients including LaLiga soccer club Real Sociedad.
The consultancy has worked with more than 70 clubs and venues, and aims to help drive revenue for clients through technology, data and digital and commercial solutions.
The opening of an APAC hub in Australia forms part of PTI’s strategic development led by Kirby and the company’s founder and chief executive Mike Bohndiek.
Kirby said today: “We’ve had great success in the UK over the past three years, accumulating considerable experience and talent across our core business areas. As part of that, we have been identifying key markets to explore, with Australia top of that list.
“We already knew Australia and New Zealand would be exciting locations for us to bring PTI’s expertise. PTI Digital is better-placed than ever to understand the challenges our industry faces and identify strategies to overcome these challenges.
“We are committed to helping rights holder and venue businesses not only bounce back from the global pandemic, but build sustainable revenue models to help future-proof business.”
PTI said the Melbourne hub will also have two new team members and experience of working with bodies and events including Cricket Australia, Sydney Cricket Ground Trust and soccer’s AFC Asian Cup.
Recent PTI appointments in have included Finn Walsh as head of commercial and Mario Zambas as head of venue technology (EMEA).
Walsh, who has joined the company from event technology firm Realife Tech, will support chief commercial officer Ben Wells, a former senior executive at English rugby union's Bath Rugby and soccer's Chelsea FC, to develop the commercial services area.
