MEET OUR TEAM
Board of Directors and Executive Leadership Team
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George Buschman
Founder & Chief Executive
George has had an outstanding Media career spanning 3 decades. Beginning in Radio sales he worked his way up to the role of Group General Manager and National Sales head of the Triple M Radio Network before taking the first steps to media ownership, taking an interest in John Singletons Macquarie Radio. He was instrumental in rebuilding the flagship station in the group, Sydney's 2GB into the largest and highest Revenue generating radio station in the country.
In 2007 George founded Boost Media International and is the driving force behind the company’s quest to have its unique and successful revenue generation programs implemented globally.
George is based in Sydney.
Russell Tate
Non-Executive Chairman
Russell was appointed Chairman of the Boost Media International board in June 2022.
Russell brings over 40 years' experience in senior marketing, advertising, media and board roles, to his position at Boost.
He is currently an Independent Director of ASX-listed Collins Foods Limited, after serving as Non-Executive Chairman from its listing in 2011, through to 2015.
Russell co-founded ASX-listed STW Communications Group, which was originally John Singleton Advertising. He spent 24 years in that business, including as CEO and Executive Chair.
Under Russell’s stewardship, STW Communications Group grew to become Australia’s largest advertising and marketing communications group.
In addition, Russell served as Chairman and CEO of ASX-listed Macquarie Radio Network (renamed Macquarie Media Limited) from 2009 to its sale in 2019.
Mark Rodgers
Non-Executive Director
A Media and Marketing Specialist with over 30 years’ experience, Mark started his career with CCA Amatil in various marketing roles, before working at 2SM. Mark held senior sales roles at both Network 9 and TEN and was COO of Australia’s No. 1 AM News talk Network.
After founding and selling one of Australia’s leading marketing consultancies, Mark became a shareholder in Boost Media and is a Non-Executive Director of the Company.
Mark is based in Sydney.
Robert Ryan
Company Secretary and CFO
Robert has over 20 years’ experience in professional accounting, including financial and management accounting, taxation, corporate secretarial, audits, finance, capital raisings and business valuations. Having worked as a senior manager for a mid-tier accounting firm, Robert joined Boost in 2012 as the Chief Financial Officer, bringing extensive experience in taxation and financial management to the business.
He is responsible for its overall financial management as well as conducting market analysis and developing strategies to maximise Boost’s profitable growth. Robert’s strength lies in his ability to work closely with the management team, understand their needs and provide commercial and practical solutions.
Robert is based in Sydney.
Merryn Vincent
Chief Operating Officer
Merryn has a history of corporate success by driving revenue growth and organisational excellence through exceptional team leadership, staff development, operational efficiency and partner relationships. She has almost 30 years management experience having held both operational and executive leadership positions, and has specialised in providing decisive leadership to cross functional teams.
Merryn’s media career started in regional radio and has spanned all sectors - holding positions as COO of Macquarie Radio Network, Head of Business Affairs at SBS TV and Online, Head of Partnerships, Business and Operations for ABC Radio, Director of Commercial Operations at Fairfax, and Director of Sales Operations at Nine Publishing and Digital.
As Senior Vice President for Boost from 2010, Merryn started up and built the North American business – developing and implementing the digital strategy for publishers across the US. Merryn has returned to Boost to oversee operations across all markets and ensure Boost is meeting the market and client expectations.
Merryn is based in Sydney and can be reached at merryn@boostmedia.com.au
Leadership Team
Jamie Wood
Global Sales Director
Jamie has over 14 years experience in media, spanning out-of-home, radio, podcasting, activation, e-sports,
and digital.
Joining Boost in 2023, Jamie spent the previous decade leading the revenue function and overseeing local operations for two ASX-listed media companies (oOh!Media and ARN).
Working across multiple markets, Jamie has driven record market share results, diversified revenues away from traditional broadcast, turned around under-performing business units, and successfully commercialized multiple new media platforms. Under his leadership, two of his teams have been awarded best radio sales team in the country at the Australian Commercial Radio Awards.
Jamie regularly contributes as a speaker and writer for industry trade bodies and produces one of the world's top-rated podcasts on Media Sales.
As the Global Sales Director, Jamie works with key partners to run revenue enhancement programs and leads the global new business function to engage and attract new partners to Boost.
Jamie is based in Brisbane and can be reached at jamie@boostmedia.com.au
Paul Pirrie
Managing Director - Middle East, Europe & Australasia
Paul started his career in advertising with EON FM (now Triple M). He spent several years in both direct and agency sales roles before being promoted to Sales Director and then General Manager for Triple M Melbourne, where he steered the station to number one in the market. When Triple M merged with Austereo, Australia’s largest radio network, Paul was appointed Group General Manger for Austereo Melbourne and subsequently National Sales Director of the Triple M Network.
Paul’s next role was that of Managing Director of Frontier Advertising, developing it into one of Melbourne’s premier boutique Advertising Agencies. After 8 years at Frontier Paul joined Boost Media. Tasked with the responsibility of global growth, Paul has spent the last 12 years developing the Boost model in India, the Middle East, Europe and Australia.
Paul is based in Melbourne and can be reached at paul@boostmedia.com.au
Nigel Cummings
Group General Manager – South-East Asia
Based in Singapore, Nigel has overseen Boost programs in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and beyond.
Beginning his career with the Austereo Group in 1992, Nigel moved to television media sales in 1994. During this time he worked for the Nine Network, STAR TV in Hong Kong and Singapore and Australia Network Broadcasting. Between 2015 and 2019, Nigel was the Commercial Director of a leading entertainment promoter working on many international tours including Cirque du Soleil, Wicked – the Musical, The Lion King and the St Petersburg Ballet.
In his current role, Nigel develops and implements sales strategies designed to generate revenue for major regional media owners.
Neeraja Chawla
Managing Director – Indian Sub Continent
Neeraja has 26+ years of successful experience in providing fiscal, strategic and operations leadership in uniquely challenging situations across Media, FMCG and Hospitality Industries. She has successfully set up new businesses and transformed existing operations to optimise performance and overcome complex business challenges.
She started her career with one of the most respected Hotel brands of the world – The Taj Group of Hotels. Her next eight years saw her transitioning very successfully through different roles in the World’s largest Direct Selling cosmetic Brand – Avon Beauty Products. For her various roles in Avon, she was the proud recipient of many ‘Being Best’ and ‘Circle of Excellence’ Awards in the company.
Neeraja’s Media stint started with one of the largest Media Houses of India, The HT Media Ltd which boasts of more than 56 million readers. She was recognised for her ability to experiment with innovative solutions by introducing category specific events and initiatives for deeper client alignment and integration, for which she was also acknowledged with multiple ‘Star Performance Awards’.
Her last assignment, before joining the Boost team was as the CEO and publisher of Open Magazine, which is the flagship brand of Open Media Network, a part of the RPSG Group. She was responsible for re-structuring & revamping the business model to build a more responsive & market-driven organisation through Brand Building Initiatives, Digital Media implementation and building business alliances for growth.
Neeraja is based out of Gurgaon, India and can be reached at neeraja@boostmedia.com.au
Joanne Millett
Regional Director
Joanne has enjoyed a successful, 20-year Media career specialising in print and agency sales. Jo has excelled in the disciplines of sales management, leadership and operations while working in publishing and has held several key management positions working with all three major publishers based in Australia - APN News Media, Fairfax (previously Rural Press) and News Limited.
She has been based in Canberra, Sydney, Brisbane and Dallas Texas. While working with Boost she has managed programs in Singapore, Malaysia, India, South America, Australia and the US.
Jo is based in Brisbane and can be reached at joanne@boostmedia.com.au
Brendon Everett
Global Head of Creative
With over 30 years’ experience across advertising and media industries, Brendon has created and produced marketing across every type of medium there is. Beginning as a copy boy at Australian Consolidated Press he then spent the next 8 years working within other roles of the business via advertising sales, editorial and creative departments. With a passion for creative, prior to leaving he was managing the production of a wide range of leading Australian Men's Lifestyle magazines along with some specialty titles.
Seeking further challenges, he spent the next 15 years working as a Production Manager and Creative Services Director in Australia's leading advertising and boutique marketing agencies. The experience gained working across major Australian and Global brands but also start up and small businesses across ABL and BTL campaigns, has given him invaluable diversity of marketing knowledge.
In 2007 Brendon joined Boost Media working as Creative Director working on creative and event strategies. Brendon is based in Sydney and can be reached at brendon@boostmedia.com.au