Bastion Reputation Management Appoints Clare Gleghorn As CEO

Clare Cleghorn photographed for Bastion RM at 1826 Studios on May 30, 2018 in South Melbourne, Australia. (John Donegan/1826)

Bastion Collective is pleased to announce that it has appointed Clare Gleghorn, who has been with the group for four years, to CEO of Bastion Reputation Management.

Gleghorn is taking over the role from current CEO and founder of Bastion RM, Brian Walsh, who has accepted a highly sought after position on the AFL Executive.

Walsh, who leaves Bastion on August 23, will move to the AFL in early September after joining Bastion Collective nearly five years ago and successfully building Bastion RM from a standing start into one of Australia’s most respected corporate communications agencies.

Gleghorn joined Bastion RM four years ago as its general manager, and together she and Walsh have taken it from a small traditional issues and crisis communications business into a 15-strong team with five strategic practice areas including corporate positioning and transformation, campaigns, media and content, training and capability, and risk, issues and crisis, servicing clients in government, logistics, transport, energy, tech, financial services, Aboriginal affairs, sport, health, and education.

Bastion Collective founder and executive chairman, Fergus Watts said: “Bastion RM has been one of the major success stories of the Bastion Collective, which now boasts 9 businesses in Australia across the full marketing and communications spectrum; a truly one-of-a-kind full-service model.”

“We absolutely wish Walshy all the best in his new role.

“It is an outstanding tribute to the calibre of talent within the Collective and our desire to ensure that we can always help create more opportunities for our staff and our clients.

Watts added: “Fostering great businesses and great people is truly why we exist.”

Gleghorn brings 15 years’ strategic communications and leadership experience working client-side for major brands and governments in Australia and the UK, as well as leading the Melbourne corporate practice for global PR firm Edelman for nearly four years.

Watts continued: “Clare has been a valued leader for Bastion RM and in the wider Collective now for four years and we are delighted for her and excited about the opportunities to take Bastion RM to the next level under her leadership.”

Gleghorn said: “I’m incredibly honoured to be able to lead the Bastion RM team and to continue to deliver creatively and strategically for our clients every day.”

“Our clients are facing increasingly complex business challenges and it is a joy to come to work each day and be part of a team so committed to helping our clients articulate a clear and compelling vision for what they stand for.”

The Melbourne-based Bastion RM continues to build its client portfolio across Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, and Canberra.

This announcement follows a series of new appointments and promotions for Bastion RM which included former ABC reporter and senior executive and change management specialist, Michele Fonseca.

The Bastion Collective continues to go from strength to strength and consolidate its market position as Australia’s largest independent agency, with the acquisition of Banjo in Sydney, successful expansion of the business into the USA, and consistent growth year-on-year in Australia through a truly integrated offering, where complementary agencies truly work together to create, grow, protect and measure ideas for our clients.

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bastion collective Bastion Reputation Management Clare Gleghorn Fergus Watts