Bob Heussner, Octagon’s Senior Vice President of Games Marketing, has relocated to the agency’s London office where he will work with account teams in the U.K. and markets throughout Europe to help brands and rights-holders create and implement Games related marketing and sponsorship programs. 
 
Over the past two decades encompassing a combined nine Summer and Winter Games, Heussner has provided strategic planning for corporate sponsors, local organizing committees and bid committees.  At the 2004 Summer Games in Athens, Octagon represented more corporate sponsors and athletes combined than any other sports marketing agency. In preparation for the 2008 Beijing Games, Octagon is working with local sponsors such as Heng Yuan Xiang and Yanjing and TOP sponsor Manulife and negotiated sponsorship agreements for UPS and Samsung.  Octagon also represents the Chinese and Swedish Olympic Committees and several Chinese sports federations.

“The Olympic Games are sport’s single largest catalyst for positive change in the world today,” said Heussner.  “They represent both an awesome responsibility and unequalled opportunity for both Olympic 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.  It’s imperative to maintain the delicate balance between upholding the traditions and values of the Olympic movement while developing innovations that attract and hold the attention of consumers,” said Heussner.

While at Octagon, Heussner has worked with Games sponsors including IBM, Motorola, Bank of America, UPS, GM Canada, Manulife, Samsung and The Home Depot.  He has also represented bid clients Klagenfurt 2006 and Moscow 2012 in addition to non-Olympic corporate clients and rights-holders. 
 
Heussner has an extensive advertising background having spent eight years as a vice president with Ammirati & Puris in New York.  His brand side perspective comes from his tenure as President of General Motors EventWorks where he directed negotiations and management of the automaker’s major sports and entertainment sponsorship programs.