About ESP
Elite Sports Properties Holdings Pty Ltd (ESP) is an independent Australian sports and entertainment marketing and management company. Possessing an impressive track record, we assist clients in meeting their objectives through the development and activation of integrated marketing, promotional, media, event and merchandising programs.
Since 1996 ESP has proven itself to be the very best at what it does within the Australian market. Upon retiring from elite-level competition Rob Woodhouse and Craig Kelly started a management and marketing company based on the same principles that brought them success on the sporting field.
ESP is involved in global activation strategies, partnering some of the world’s most prominent brands and personalities to improve their marketing and set new performance benchmarks.
OUR MISSION STATEMENT
To create and share success as the leader in sports and entertainment, activation and representation.
INFRASTRUCTURE
With offices in Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide and London, ESP enjoys close relationships with both Australian and International major sporting organisations and corporations. Our local knowledge and contacts within these markets puts ESP in an ideal position to maximise our client’s strategies and achieve their key objectives.
ESP Advisory Board
John Andrews (BEc, CPA) - Chairman
John is a qualified accountant with over 35 years of business experience and is the current Chairman of Andrews and Wallis Group of automotive dealerships. He has extensive strategic business experience having served as a board member for several companies in the mining, cold storage, fruit marketing, equine and information technology industries.
One of the first player managers in the then VFL, John has over 25 years of experience in dealing with AFL clubs and elite level footballers. Involved with ESP for over ten years, John is an advisor to ESP’s talent management team.
Craig Kelly – CEO
A co-founder of ESP, Craig enjoyed a successful AFL career at the Collingwood Football Club from 1989 - 1996, playing 123 games including the 1990 premiership. During his career with Collingwood and before that the Norwood Football club in South Australia, Craig worked in various sales and marketing roles including the family business and working for the marketing dept. of the Collingwood Football Club. In 1993 he started Ned Promotions, one of Australia’s first AFL player marketing businesses, working on projects such as “The AFL Pro Squad”.
Upon joining forces with Rob Woodhouse and forming ESP, Craig worked on and developed the AFL Player marketing and management division as well as events, media and consulting. With over 25 years in the AFL business he is often asked to talk and consult about AFL and sports marketing. Craig continues to oversee ESP’s sales as well as the operations of Talent Representation and ESP Sponsorship, Events and Communications division.
Rob Woodhouse (BBus MBA) - Director
A co-founder of ESP, Rob Woodhouse is primarily responsible for its strategic growth and vision. Rob competed at the highest level in swimming, winning a bronze medal in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and competing for Australia for ten years. Together with a Bachelor of Business and a MBA, Rob brings 25 years of international sports experience to ESP. Rob is married with two young children and is now based in the United Kingdom.
Susan Harper - Director (BA, LLB)
Susan has more than ten years experience within the sports and entertainment industry. Her work has centred on the management of intellectual property; the operational components of major events, and overseeing the legal and financial structuring of commercial arrangements. She has been in charge of the legal and administration divisions of ESP for the last 7 years. Prior to joining ESP, Susan worked for Dainty Consolidated Entertainment as an assistant solicitor and with the Australian Football League in the areas of licensing and legal services. Susan holds a current Victorian corporate legal practicing certificate.
Scott Davidson (BSc Hon) - Director
Scott is a co-founder of ESP and is responsible for consumer products and licensing within the company. He played a role in the original intellectual property forums that led to the establishment of the AFL collective bargaining agreements, establishing the framework that allowed the AFL Memorabilia category to form, grow and prosper over the past ten years under ESP management.
Scott recently spent four years living in Beijing where he anchored ESP’s Olympic strategy and has been responsible for ESP’s expansion into key global markets. Scott works with major sports and entertainment properties including the IOC, NBA and FIFA both as an advisor and licensee and has established a global network of relationships, allowing ESP a unique insight and access to market intelligence.