Crowd Network has appointed former England rugby international Shaunagh Brown as Brand Partnerships Consultant.
Shaunagh joins Crowd as a consultant after already working with the company as a presenter on For The Love Of Rugby, one of the network’s most successful podcasts, where she covered the Women’s Six Nations and the Women’s World Cup last year.
During her playing career, Shaunagh earned thirty caps for England and was part of the Red Roses squad that secured four Six Nations titles, before moving into broadcasting and presenting after retiring from professional rugby.
In her new role, Shaunagh will help shape and deliver brand partnerships across Crowd’s growing portfolio of shows, working closely with talent and producers to identify commercial partners that align with content and audiences.
A particular focus of her work will be Long Story Short, hosted by former Lionesses Jill Scott and Karen Carney, as Crowd continues to develop athlete-led formats that attract long-term brand relationships.
Alongside supporting existing podcasts, Shaunagh will also contribute to the expansion of Crowd’s work-for-hire production arm, creating audio, video and social-first content for brands, creators and organisations.
This includes podcasts, YouTube formats and promotional projects, as well as supporting Crowd’s athlete-owned model, which enables talent to develop shows as independent businesses and build sustainable careers after sport.
Crowd has also confirmed the appointment of Sam Ratcliffe as Account Manager, strengthening the team responsible for managing its largest brand partnerships.
Crowd CEO Mike Carr said: “Shaunagh brings a brilliant mix of elite sport experience and a deep understanding of how audiences engage with content.
“She shares our belief that brand partnerships work best when they are authentic and add real value. We have ambitious plans for this year, and Shaunagh will play a key role in delivering them.”
Shaunagh said she was looking forward to building on her existing relationship with the network.
“Having worked with Crowd as a presenter last year, I’ve seen how the team creates innovative, industry-leading content and has evolved beyond podcasting,” she said. “I’m excited to help grow partnerships that genuinely align with the shows and talent, particularly in supporting women’s sport.”
