John Rowady // Founder & CEO
John Rowady is the Founder and CEO of rEvolution, a pioneering independent sports marketing agency established in 2001 to amplify the value of brands’ investments in sport. Rowady founded rEvolution to address a critical gap in the industry: the underrepresentation of brands in the sports ecosystem. With a deep passion for sports and business expertise built through leadership roles at Fox Sports, the NCAA, Formula 1, the FIFA World Cup and the Olympics, he built a brand-first agency that would redefine sports marketing.
Under Rowady’s leadership, rEvolution has grown into rEvolution Worldwide, with offices across North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Growth has been fueled by key acquisitions, including Revolution Sports Marketing Group in the UK (2018), Centigrade in North America (2022) and WePlay in the UK (2023), expanding the agency’s digital, analytics and creative expertise. Its house of brands – rEvolution, REVXP, rEv United, WePlay and rEv YOUTH – combines data-driven strategy, breakthrough creative, and quality execution to generate measurable business results for clients including Coca-Cola, Chipotle, AWS, Komatsu, Continental Tire and Discover. This success has earned rEvolution repeat recognition on the Chief Marketer 200, Event Marketer Top 100 It List and the Inc. 5000 Hall of Fame.
Rowady’s belief in ‘Communication Through Sport’ has shaped rEvolution’s success for over two decades, connecting global brands with passionate audiences and setting new benchmarks in sponsorship activation, experiential marketing, hospitality, creative production, integrated communications and digital strategy. Central to this success is Rowady’s ‘Play to Win’ people culture, which drives a competitive, collaborative environment, empowering his team to push boundaries and achieve unmatched results.
Rowady extends his leadership to developing future talent and shaping the industry. Championing the rEvolution Development League (RDL), rEvolution’s global internship program, he works with the next generation of sports marketers – a commitment to leaving a lasting legacy of leadership and opportunity in the industry. That commitment also carries into the wider sports business community, where he serves on the Executive Committee of the Chicago Sports Commission, the Indiana University Kelley School of Business Sports Board, and the Vistage CEO Network. His focus on mentorship and innovation underscores an enduring dedication to shaping the future of sports marketing.
Based in Chicago, Rowady continues to chart the course for rEvolution Worldwide, pushing the boundaries of sports marketing to drive innovation and impact for brands wherever sport leads.
John’s Top Three Favorite Dive Sites
- Grand Cayman – Ghost Mountain
- Belize – Lighthouse Reef
- British Virgin Islands – Wreck of the Rhone