Fast Track announces the appointment of Diana Howlett to the UK leadership team in a newly-created role of Director and Head of

 Diana’s position is effective immediately, and comes a year to the day before the Rugby World Cup 2015 kicks-off in the UK. She will be responsible for spearheading the agency’s Rugby World Cup 2015 strategy, alongside her long-term agency position as strategic lead of Jaguar Land Rover’s growing sponsorship portfolio. Land Rover is a worldwide partner for the Rugby World Cup 2015.

Diana will continue to report to UK MD Jon Wyatt. She joined the agency in 2004, and has played a leading role in establishing Fast Track’s global rugby credentials.

She has led strategic planning and activation campaigns for Land Rover’s international rugby sponsorships, including the British & Irish Lions winning tour of Australia in 2013, and England Rugby and for Premiership Rugby. Her direction of the Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) sponsorship portfolio includes senior consultancy on the first dual brand sponsorship by JLR as presenting partner for the inaugural Invictus Games, and for Land Rover’s activation around the World Equestrian Games earlier this month.

Diana has been involved with Rugby World Cup tournaments since 1999 for a range of clients.  She relocated to New Zealand between 2010 and 2012 to run the Fast Track New Zealand office around Rugby World Cup 2011, which included activating RWC-related campaigns for KPMG and Land Rover.

Andy Westlake, global CEO of Fast Track, said: “We are excited to welcome Diana to the UK leadership team of Fast Track on this symbolic occasion of the one-year countdown to our home Rugby World Cup. Her rugby expertise is second to none, and she has built a team here which is arguably the most experienced of any agency in global rugby sponsorship, activation and communications. As Head of Rugby, she will ensure all our current and future clients with a stake in the sport receive exceptional advice and support.”

Diana said: “I am thrilled to join the UK leadership team here at Fast Track. We have the opportunity to make this next World Cup the most commercially-successful ever for brands and sponsors, and I’m looking forward to playing a role in that.”

Fast Track’s long-term rugby clients include HSBC, which sponsors the British & Irish Lions, and the HSBC Sevens World Series. The agency provides consultancy to the global governing body of the sport, the International Rugby Board (IRB); and to various Aviva Premiership teams. Fast Track has delivered the grassroots under 11s and 12s tournament for elite clubs, the Land Rover Premiership Rugby Cup, for five years.

 Diana joins the UK leadership team alongside Andy, Jon and Dan Humphreys, Director of PR, Media & Content; and Andrew Owen, Director of Client Services.

For more information, please contact Sarah Crampton [email protected]