As Head of Commercial & Growth for Hawthorn Football Club, Dan leads key areas of the commercial function of the organisation in commercial partnership development & servicing, driving the club’s corporate sales strategy, overseeing a comprehensive corporate networking program and assisting in the identification and implementation of non-core revenue initiatives.
His current responsibilities include managing a high-performing commercial team that delivers commercial partner development, implementation, and servicing, while researching, evaluating and negotiating long-term commercial partnership opportunities across the club’s AFL and AFLW programs.
Recent additions to the club’s partnership portfolio include prominent global brands in KFC, Skechers (Accent Group), Nature Valley (General Mills), Ryman Healthcare, Joie (Nuna Baby) and extending key partners in Nissan, iiNet (TPG), and Tasmanian Government.
Prior to his role at Hawthorn Football Club, Dan worked in broadcast advertising & integrated partnerships at Seven Network. Additionally, Dan looked to further develop his strategy and governance experience at state sport level by becoming a director at Table Tennis Victoria.
Passionate about developing innovative brand partnerships in sport, Dan is constantly reading, learning about, and engaging in robust discussions about all things advertising, brand and marketing strategy.
Dan’s tenacious, passionate, and engaging approach to his role at Hawthorn is buoyed by his wonderful colleagues – whom he recognises are paramount in cultivating an empowering and thoroughly enjoyable working environment.
Outside of work, Dan enjoys spending time with his partner Rachael and his spoodle, Gracie.
Dan also enjoys explaining to people that his identical twin brother works in the field of neuroscience, often prompting people to say “Wow! Why didn’t you decide to work in neuroscience as well?” to which he still doesn’t have an appropriate answer.
