The Bastion group, founded by former Australian Football League player Fergus Watts, "has appointed a number of senior executives and launched two new divisions as it builds out what it claims is a new, more entrepreneurial style of marketing communications group," according to Lara Sinclair of THE AUSTRALIAN. Former Labor Senator Kate Lundy joined its lobbying arm Bastion S+GO as a non-exec director following the last year’s announcement that ex-AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou "was joining the Bastion Group as a shareholder and board member." Ex-NAB corporate spinner Brian Walsh "also joined in December to launch reputation management arm Bastion RM, of which he is managing director." Former STA Travel Asia Pacific Managing Dir Michelle Cox, who is on the board of media division Undertow and a director of sponsorship arm Bastion EBA, "has been appointed chief operating officer of the group." This week Bastion "is launching branded merchandise arm Bastion Promotions, while a new digital division has been created to provide data, insights and research services across the group companies." Bastion "aims to take a stake in marketing businesses that remain
co-owned by the principals and offer supporting services such as
finance, technology, research, events management and other functions." There "are now four major operating arms, covering PR, media, sports sponsorship and lobbying." Bastion, which employs about 70 staff members in Melbourne, Sydney and New
Zealand, claims revenues of about A$10M ($7.8M) this year. Watts said that
"is growing" at about 50% (THE AUSTRALIAN, 5/4).
