Brett Gosper

In January 2021, following nine years as CEO of World Rugby and Rugby World Cup Ltd, Brett joined the National Football League (NFL), the world’s most valuable sports property.  

 Based in London, Brett’s role at the NFL is to oversee the acceleration of fan growth and revenues across NFL core markets in Europe and Asia-Pacific. This involves strategic and operational management across marketing, sponsorship, broadcast, consumer products, as well as the staging of NFL regular season games in London and Germany, with related ticketing, hospitality, and event management. In 2022, Brett oversaw the first ever NFL regular season game in Germany at FC Bayern Munich’s Allianz stadium, as well as the hosting of a record five NFL regular season games in Europe in 2023. Brett was also a member of the NFL leadership team that partnered with the International Federation of American Football to secure the historic inclusion of Flag Football at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. 

 Formerly, as Chief Executive of World Rugby and Rugby World Cup, Brett was responsible for the strategic and business operations of rugby’s global governing federation. Brett oversaw the implementation of World Rugby’s global investment, development and player welfare strategies, the delivery of record-breaking Men’s Rugby World Cups; 2015 in England and 2019 in Japan (the first Asian Rugby World Cup), delivery of Women’s Rugby World Cups France 2014 and Ireland 2017, the bidding process and related business model that led to the awarding of France 2023,  the growth of the HSBC Men and Women’s World Rugby Sevens Series, the step change acceleration of women in rugby’s governance as well as rugby’s successful return to the Olympic Games in Rio 2016.  

 Prior to his time at World Rugby, Brett held leadership roles with major international marketing services companies in Paris, Frankfurt, London and New York. This included Chairman-CEO of Havas in London, CEO of TBWA Group New York, CEO of the largest US advertising agency; McCann USA and more recently as CEO McCann Europe/Middle East/Africa. 

 Recent advisory roles include; Expert panellist on the UK Government’s Review of Women’s Football in 2023 and Independent member of the ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) newly formed Tournament Standards Committee. 

 Formerly an elite level rugby player, Brett represented, Victoria, Queensland,  Australia U21 and played in two final trials for Wallaby tours to Argentina and the UK.  

 At age 22, Brett left Australia , having signed with top French Championship club, Racing 92. After 8 seasons with the club in Paris , including selections for the French Barbarians (notably versus the All Blacks in 1986), Brett was able to fully focus on his business career.