The rush management team further combines extensive expertise in the fields of sports marketing, finance, consumer relations, PR and publicity. Our specialist insights and connections with the major sporting arenas, athletes, franchises and events can help you diversify your business profile and reach.
rush seeks to develop bespoke partnerships for organisations of all sizes that harness the full power of sports marketing for their business enabling them to best connect with both business customers and consumers to accelerate growth.
Tom Potter, CEO
Prior to taking up the helm at rush, Tom was responsible for Commercial Alliances at the Williams F1 racing team, developing partnerships with some of the world’s largest companies and brands. He is highly regarded in Formula 1 sponsorship and marketing circles, with former clients and partners acknowledging both his creativity and professional approach.
Tom has worked on sports sponsorship strategies with leading global brands, including AT&T, Hewlett Packard, Royal Bank of Scotland, Philips, Thomson Reuters, Allianz, Randstad, PepsiCo and ORIS Swiss Watches.
As CEO at rush, Tom uses his vast experience and network to develop bespoke sports marketing solutions for our clients. To explore how rush may assist your business please contact us.
Darryl Eales, Chairman
Darryl is the Chief Executive of Lloyds Development Capital (LDC), the UK’s leading mid-market private equity house and part of the Lloyds Banking Group. With more than 25 years’ private equity experience, and having served on more than 50 company boards, he has overseen LDC’s significant growth during the past decade.
A passionate believer that sustainable commercial success is built on a relationship-based approach, Darryl has an enviable reputation for being trusted, fair minded and commercial. He is also a strong advocate of the role private equity should play in supporting local communities.
Beyond business, Darryl’s varied outside interests and hobbies include wine collecting, running marathons and supporting Birmingham City FC.
Peter Solomon, Founding Director
Peter has extensive international experience and has lived and worked in Asia, Europe and his native Australia for more than 30 years, managing operations in luxury and lifestyle businesses worldwide. He has been an executive board member for listed companies in London and Hong Kong.
A passionate motor sports enthusiast, Peter was instrumental in securing the venture capital and sponsorship required for Yorkshire-based Manor Motorsport, later to become the Marussia Virgin Racing F1 Team.
A consultant to a number of multi-billion dollar businesses, Peter is also a Senior Advisor to Lloyds Development Capital (LDC), where his responsibilities include helping to grow its Asian interests and to assist its European portfolio’s entry into and development in Asia.
Paul Johnson, Director
Paul joined rush from private equity firm Lloyds Development Capital (LDC). He has 25 years experience with global blue chip financial services firms and in 2007 was appointed International Managing Director at LDC, responsible for establishing the firm’s business in Asia. He enjoys a strong network in the region – particularly in India, China and Hong Kong where he has been investing for several years.
Whilst at LDC, Paul also ran an investment team in Manchester and established a national deal origination team, culminating in him winning several notable industry awards.
Paul has significant experience in business expansion and strategy with a strong focus on consumer brands. He also worked at Board level within a F1 racing team and is a dedicated football and cricket fan.
James Dick, Managing Director, Asia
James is Managing Director, Asia of rush based in Hong Kong, responsible for the growth of our Asian business, helping global brands expand in Asia, and Asian brands to expand internationally.
With over 15 years international sports marketing experience (F1, World Super Bikes, Moto GP, Olympics, Rugby World Cup, English Premier League, European Tour, Asian Tour, PGA Tour, ATM, WTA) James has introduced, developed and executed effective sponsorship strategies for brands, government agencies and rights holders. His expertise covers sports rights consultancy, rights acquisition, sponsorship and event activation, measurement and return on investment analysis.
James has spent the last six years working in Asia Pacific connecting Asian brands to sports and entertainment properties worldwide. Previous to rush, James was Head of Sponsorship & Advertising for IMG where he also headed up their research and consultancy division.
Jonny Odell, Managing Director
Jonny is Managing Director responsible for client, brand and sponsorship management. Having previously worked for Williams F1 and most recently for JMI, Jonny brings industry leading experience developing and executing successful sponsorship programmes for blue chip brands in sport including PepsiCo, Hewlett Packard, Thomson Reuters, Petrobras, Hilton International, Lenovo and Diageo.
Jonny led LG Electronics into Formula One as a Global Partner and oversaw their global activation programme resulting in over 50 local marketing teams using the F1 property to enhance marketing campaigns and drive sales. Under Jonny’s stewardship LG was consistently the most exposed brand in Formula One’s broadcast coverage reaching over 515 million unique viewers each year.
Most recently Jonny took on responsibility for Diageo’s stalwart brand, Johnnie Walker. With a focus on Asia Johnnie Walker looked to use the style and sophistication of Formula One and the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team to boost engagement with a younger more affluent demographic. The results in countries including Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, China and India showed impressive gains commercially as well as advancing brand perception, affinity and loyalty to the brand.
Jonny’s broad experience in international sports marketing spans strategy consultation and rights acquisition, return on investment maximisation, experiential marketing, events and hospitality, measurement and evaluation, and local market asset exploitation.
Matthew Argenti
2013 marks three decades of sponsorship management & sales for Matthew Argenti. Initially he was a sales executive for Mark McCormack’s IMG business before progressing to senior management posts at CSS and Jardine Communications prior to being appointed Managing Director of API International. More recently Matthew acted as Commercial Director of the World Offshore Powerboat Championship.
Matthew has experience of numerous sports having worked on the British and European Athletic Championships where he introduced Spar International, the Rugby and Cricket World Cups, Sailing, Tennis, Golf, Football and Cycling.
Motorsport would be Matthew’s ‘Mastermind’ subject where he has managed the likes of Emmerson Fittipaldi, Alan Jones and Jackie Stewart. He was responsible for introducing BP Oil International, FedEx, Korean Air, Autoglass and others into Formula 1 as well as working with RJ Reynolds Tobacco through the global brand, Camel, in F1, F3000, Rally Raid and Camel Trophy. Matthew is also experienced in the World Rally Championship with Ford and Subaru and in Moto GP with BAT and Pepsi-Cola International.
Susan Field, Marketing & PR Director
Susan is the founder and CEO of Impact Asia, a successful PR and events consultancy with offices in four key Asian cities – Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing and Singapore.
For the past 25 years, Susan has built an Asia-wide network through her own company and the various organisations with which she is involved. Her contacts, particularly in the areas of media, travel and luxury lifestyle brands, are well regarded by her peers across the region and worldwide.
Susan is President of SKAL Hong Kong, one of the largest and most successful chapters of SKAL International, the world’s leading travel industry networking body which boasts more than 20,000 members worldwide.