CEO James Warburton's Action Plan
V8 Supercars team owners have been briefed byChief Executive Officer James Warburton on his action plan for the sport in hisfirst 90 days.
The briefing was held on the Saturday morning ofthe SkyCity Triple Crown in Darwin, two weeks into Warburton’s tenure,identifying the strategies and initiatives he will pursue.
Warburton, the category’s fourth CEO in fiveyears, wasn’t prepared to publicly document his plans, but securing the Gold Coast,Townsville and Homebush marquee events is a priority. The team owners will alsobe particularly keen on his emphasis on improving the commercial growth of theChampionship; and therefore their dividend returns.
The relationship with telecaster Seven and thenext television rights deal, due at the end of the 2014 season, is also onWarburton’s agenda.
“We will deliver, that I am sure of,” Warburtonexplained. “As a group we are focussed on the back-end commercial outcomesacross a range of areas. There are many opportunities. We are going to moveforward in a more entrepreneurial, energetic way; building on the passion,spirit and energy in the business.”
Warburton, a former executive with Seven and 10who has a reputation as a super-salesman, communicated with the team ownerseither by phone or email before he officially started his new job. He hascommitted to visiting every team base as soon as possible, something he hadplanned before the unexpected passing of his father.
He also drove the appointment of new V8 SupercarsCommercial Director Andrew Hutton and National Sales Director Tim McDermott.
“We have got to get out there and sell what is anamazing brand,” Warburton added. “We have to sell ourselves and raise ourprofile further. It has been an incredible journey to this point under thestewardship of Tony (Cochrane), which will continue. There are a million ideasin my head and a huge amount of passion for this sport.”
Warburton said the Championship had been firstbuilt on the back of automotive brands and was now moving into the FMCG andblue chip markets; which is where he says some of the many opportunities lie.
“We have a very fantastic opportunity with bluechip brands. You just have to have the passion and the hunger to get out thereand amongst it. This is the most integrated platform that any advertiser couldhave,” he enthused. “We have got the event itself at which they can activate,we have got world class teams, cars, drivers, signage, television. Theopportunities are plenty.”
The next V8 Supercar event is the SucrogenTownsville 400, which begins on Friday.
