May delivered another huge month for sponsorship opportunities, with over 9,600 marketers and CEOs stepping into new roles. These fresh appointments mean thousands of decision-makers are currently reconsidering sponsorship strategies, reviewing partnerships, and allocating budgets.

9,600+ New Marketers Driving Sponsorship Decisions

Stand-out appointments from May include:

• Under Armour: Matt Dornic, Chief Communications Officer
• Greenhouse Software - Kevin Ryan, Senior Director, EMEA Marketing
• BMG Money: Dustin Porter, Chief Marketing Officer‍
• CBRE - Joy Christodoulides, Marketing Director - Sustainability
• Purplebricks - Anoushka Grover, Chief Marketing Officer
• SharkNinja: Kleona Mack, Chief Marketing Officer – Beauty
• Athletico: Dan Smith, Vice President Marketing
• MilkShake Factory: Micah Paul Keith, Vice President of Marketing‍
• Blockchain.com - James Maddison, Global Marketing Director
• STARK: Johanna Kohr, Chief Marketing Officer
• Love's Travel Stops: Patrick McLean, Chief Marketing Officer
• Paragon Global Brands - Gail van Dijk, Global Marketing Director

These new hires will be instrumental in shaping brand direction and sponsorship strategies at their companies.

Promoted Decision-Makers Opening New Doors

Significant internal promotions are reshaping brand priorities and presenting fresh opportunities to pitch innovative sponsorship concepts:

• PepsiCo: Gustavo Reyna, Vice President, Marketing
• The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company: Doug Grassian, VP – Global External Communications, Social Media, and Partnerships
• Caesars Entertainment: Avetis Mazmanyan, VP Marketing Analytics
• Mars: Sarah Doyle, VP, Global Corporate Communications, Science & Diagnostics
• Nationwide: Jim McCoy, Vice President Sports Marketing, Print & Promotions
• PGA Tour: Sean Halbmaier, VP, Marketing Operations

These promotions often signal the best times to introduce new partnership opportunities.

CEOs Shaping New Sponsorship Directions

CEO appointments this month could mean strategic pivots in sponsorship priorities and investments:

• Caterpillar: Joe Creed steps in, driving digital and sustainability-focused initiatives.
• Herbalife: Stephan Gratziani’s appointment highlights opportunities in wellness and digital partnerships.
• Europcar Mobility Group: Sebastian Birkel aims to transform the business through sustainable fleet management and digital innovations.
• Triodos Bank: Mark Clayton emphasises ethical and sustainable financial solutions.
• Sitecore: Eric Stine plans to expand the digital platform using AI-driven innovations.

Sponsorship Buzz and Strategic Conversations

In May, sponsorship conversations stayed vibrant, especially around major sports and cultural events:

• Over 8,500 global brands actively engaged in sponsorship dialogues, events, and strategic partnerships.
• Approximately 500 companies across the US and UK actively discussed international market expansion, highlighting opportunities for global sponsorships.
• Over 8,600 brands prioritised sustainability, creating openings for purpose-led sponsorship partnerships.
• Nearly 400 companies championed female employees, indicating growing demand for sponsorship opportunities supporting diversity and inclusion.

Standout New Lists for May

Fresh, highly actionable lists from Honch this month include:

• Cybersecurity Brands
• Wine Producers
• Every 2024/2025 Premier League Sponsor
• Water Brands
• Tyre Companies
• Gambling Brands

Honch tracks these pivotal sponsorship opportunities every day, ensuring you can engage decision-makers exactly when they’re setting strategies and exploring partnerships.

Ready to secure your next strategic sponsorship partner? Start your Honch trial today 👇