The commercial success of the Brisbane Olympics and Paralympics is now in the hands of the man who is helping to deliver the Paris Games.
Francois-Xavier Bonnaillie has been announced as the Chief Commercial Officer for Brisbane 2032.
Brisbane 2032 CEO Cindy Hook said Mr Bonnaillie has served as the Paris 2024 Organising Committee Senior Director of Partnership and Licensing for the past five years.
Ms Hook said the senior global commercial and marketing executive previously had close to 25 years’ experience with multinational consumer goods corporation and Worldwide Olympic Partner, Proctor and Gamble.
“Francois-Xavier brings an impressive and broad international commercial background to the role, together with a unique understanding of the task ahead to raise significant sponsorship revenue for Brisbane 2032,” she said.
“I’m confident the success that Francois-Xavier and his team have delivered to the Paris 2024 Organising Committee will carry through to a new country, market and the Brisbane 2032 Games as we continue our commercial program preparations.”
Brisbane 2032 President Andrew Liveris said it was important to bring Brisbane 2032’s Chief Commercial Officer on at this stage of the Games’ lifecycle.
“Having been deeply involved as a corporate partner to the Olympic movement as President and CEO of Dow, I know first-hand the timelines that Brisbane 2032 will need to engage with corporate leaders to be successful,” Mr Liveris said.
“We have made a commitment to be self-funded and cost-neutral to the taxpayer. That means setting our commercial strategies in place now, including the recruitment of Francois-Xavier, so that we are well advanced in our plans and discussions with potential partners ahead of our official marketing period commencing in 2027.”
Mr Bonnaillie said he had a fond connection with Brisbane, having travelled to the city for business many times.
“Over the years, I have seen significant growth take shape across the region and that was one of the main attractions in accepting the role,” he said.
Mr Bonnaillie said he and his family would relocate to Australia following the Paris Olympics and Paralympics, with his role at Brisbane 2032 commencing in November this year.
