Bastion Shine appoints Owen Dowling as CSO and Richard Brown as MP, Digital Brand Experience

Bastion Shine has announced two significant appointments, adding senior talent and global experience that will deliver measurable value for clients and further strengthen the agency’s leadership lineup.

Following an extensive local and international search, Bastion Shine has appointed Owen Dowling to the newly created role of Chief Strategy Officer.

Dowling is a creative strategist who has led teams in leading global agencies and client organisations. Originally from Ireland, he brings sharp cultural perspectives and a talent for uncovering human truths that drive meaningful creativity. His career has seen him fulfill roles across London, Amsterdam and Singapore, with experience in the US, India, Tokyo and Shanghai combining global insight with a deep understanding of local nuance.

Most recently, Dowling led strategy at 180 Amsterdam, winning the global Walls business, shaping Gatorade’s global brand direction, launching Croc’s HEY DUDE shoes on UK TikTok. Prior to that, he spent four years at AB InBev, helping the company become Cannes Marketer of the Year twice in a row and developing frameworks that guided over 150 brands.

“Owen is an exceptional strategic thinker who connects brand purpose with cultural momentum,” says Toby Sellers, CEO of Bastion Shine. “His experience leading global brands will play a central role in delivering powerful, effective work for our clients.”

Says Dowling: “Bastion Shine has built something special. You can feel it when you walk in, it’s a culture where creativity and strategy unite to make work that matters. I’m excited to help shape ideas that move brands and people in equal measure.”

Dowling’s appointment comes in addition to Bastion Shine recently hiring Richard Brown as Managing Partner of Digital Brand Experience, a new role designed to deepen the agency’s digital and CX offering.

Brown joins from Merkle, where he led the integration of digital solutions across, technology, media and creative disciplines for Dentsu’s Customer Experience and Management business. He previously led Marketing Technology and Digital, Experience Design at Davanti and Intergen, across New Zealand and Australia, working with some of the country’s biggest brands including a decade-long partnership with Toyota New Zealand, helping them build more personalised customer engagement and a direct-to-consumer e-commerce model.

Says Brown: “This role is about helping organisations deliver truly great omni-channel experiences,. I’m passionate about bringing creativity, data and technology together to build stronger connections between brands and people, driving growth and innovation.”

Adds Sellers: “Richard’s appointment reflects our continued commitment to growth in digital brand experience. His leadership and deep martech expertise will help drive value and innovation for our clients.”

These appointments reflect Bastion’s ongoing commitment to strengthening its leadership bench across the network. These additions to the senior team in Auckland further embed the agency’s ability to put brands and businesses in a position of strength possessing the scale and breadth of a network and the expertise and talent of an independent ensuring clients have access to the very best thinking, talent and execution to deliver results that matter.

Pictured (L-R): Owen Dowling, Toby Sellers, Richard Brown