About

GSIQ reintroduces the personal, boutique approach of agencies founded on authentic relationships and connections. We’re driven by our fervent commitment to truly know and understand our clients.

GSIQ’s Experienced Leadership Team

With decades of experience, the GSIQ’s leadership team have solidified their positions as recognised professionals in the industry. We’re proud that our names are synonymous with excellence and reliability. It is this wealth of knowledge and determination that drives our mission to build GSIQ.

Charlie Dundas

GSIQ Co-Founder

Joshua Marcus

GSIQ Co-Founder

Joseph Eapen

Managing Partner, India & Pakistan

Sam Dawson

Managing Partner, MENA

Frank Saez

Chairman

Our biggest ‘Why’ is us, and our deep expertise.

Our team consists of experienced experts, fully immersed in the sport and sponsorship industries. Through extensive collaboration with top-tier stakeholders worldwide, they have acquired invaluable and unparalleled insights that we actively impart to our clients.

We’re proud to have built exceptional client relationships.

Our invaluable insights and expertise have empowered rights-holders, brands, and agencies alike, shaping their strategies for success. We’ve remained steadfast companions throughout their journey.

Charlie Dundas and Joshua Marcus

GSIQ FOUNDERS

Trusted and recognised experts in the field

Co-founders, Charlie and Josh, have worked together since 2017. They share the belief that clients in the sponsorship industry want a more personalised service from their agency partners and this is what they commit to deliver.

Charlie Dundas boasts a quarter-century career dedicated to sponsorship marketing, spanning strategy, sales, activation, research, and insights. Throughout this extensive tenure, he has gained profound experience and insight into the commercial imperatives that propel the sports industry forward.

Commencing as an intern at IMG in 1999, and prior to co-founding GSIQ, Charlie spent eight years at YouGov Sport, culminating in his role as Managing Director.

His expertise drives his commitment to seamlessly integrate data with human insight, to best unlock the pivotal role that data and insight play in sponsorship.

Joshua Marcus brings over seven years of experience in the sports and sponsorship industry, specialising in providing data and insight-led strategies to diverse stakeholders.

During his tenure as Commercial Director at YouGov Sport he built robust relationships across the client spectrum, including rights-holders, brands, agencies and media owners.

It’s this expertise he brings to GSIQ as co-founder. His experience and commitment to leveraging data and insight to drive commercial success is underscored by his professional qualifications, including the completion of an MSc. in Sports Management at Birkbeck, University of London.

GSIQ launched by industry leaders

Joseph Eapen

MANAGING PARTNER, INDIA & PAKISTAN

Renowned as one of the region’s leading authorities on Sponsorship ROI & Impact

With over 25 years of astute expertise in marketing research and media measurement, Joseph brings a deep reservoir of knowledge to GSIQ.

Throughout his career, he has held senior positions at prominent sports research firms where he has established himself as a revered thought leader within the industry.

Joseph Eapen, formerly Managing Director at YouGov Sport, now leads GSIQ as Managing Partner, India & Pakistan. With over 25 years of experience in marketing research and media measurement, Joseph’s career includes leadership roles at Repucom, MRUC, and aMap.

His status as a respected thought leader in India’s and Pakistan’s sports arenas is exemplified by his significant contributions. Before leadership at MRUC, Joseph was the CEO of aMap, the second-largest overnight TV ratings company worldwide, where he published papers on Sponsorship ROI, Ad Avoidance, and Media Measurement.

It is this background and knowledge he now aligns seamlessly with GSIQ’s commitment to industry innovation and excellence.

GSIQ launched by industry leaders

Sam Dawson

MANAGING PARTNER, MENA

Sam leads GSIQ’s mission to create pioneering intelligence in one of the world’s fastest-developing markets.

With over 14 years of experience, Sam uses data and insights to de-risk and optimise commercial investments, helping industry stakeholders capitalise on opportunities. He has held senior roles at YouGov, Nielsen Sports and PwC, working with some of the most influential players in the sports and entertainment industry.

Sam Dawson brings unique experience and skills to GSIQ, with a strong background of core financial and business acumen, complemented by data-driven marketing and commercial growth advisory developed in the market research industry.

Sam spent the first half of his career at PwC and held senior commercial positions at Nielsen Sports and most recently YouGov before joining GSIQ. Throughout his career, he has had the opportunity to support major rightsholders, brands and agencies throughout Europe, MENA and Asia. Since moving to the Middle East in 2017, he has experienced the region’s development first-hand.

In an industry often overwhelmed with data, Sam keenly grasps the significance of consolidating, simplifying, and overlaying essential expert insights based on critical experience. He is ACA qualified with a BSc Honours degree in Natural Sciences from Durham University.

GSIQ announce Sam Dawson as Managing Partner, MENA

Frank Saez

CHAIRMAN

Frank is widely recognised as a leading authority in global sports business analysis and research, boasting over 25 years of experience.

Throughout his distinguished career, Frank has collaborated with some of the world’s most prestigious brands, sports rights holders, and sponsors. He has founded, developed and led several, multi-million-pound, market-leading research agencies.

In 2010, Frank founded SMG Insight, a specialist firm in the business of sports and sponsorship measurement and evaluation, with operations in the UK, US, UAE, India, and Australia. The firm was acquired by YouGov and rebranded as YouGov Sport in 2020. In May 2021, Frank was appointed Chief Revenue Officer at YouGov, where he provided sales strategy leadership for the company’s global product portfolio.

Previously, he developed and led multi-million-pound, market-leading research agencies, including Comperio (a division of IMG) and IFM Sports Marketing Surveys. His professional engagements extend to advising the boards of numerous FTSE 250 companies and actively participating in industry conferences as a speaker and chair.

Frank holds a First-Class Honours degree in Business from Leicester University, England. His visionary leadership continues to drive innovation and excellence within the sports and sponsorship research industries.

GSIQ announce Frank Saez as Chairman