Paul Smith
Global Sports Marketing Entrepreneur and Keynote Speaker
Paul Smith is a globally successful Australian entrepreneur. Drawing on real-world experience in growth, leadership and global expansion, Paul delivers high-impact keynote presentations that motivate organisations to thrive in complex and competitive environments.
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Paul Smith is a globally recognised Australian entrepreneur and business leader, best known as the founder and former CEO of Repucom, a world-leading sports marketing research company. From its beginnings in Australia, Paul grew Repucom into a truly global enterprise, employing more than 1,600 staff across 16 countries and servicing an extraordinary roster of major international clients.
Under Paul’s leadership, Repucom became the dominant force in sports marketing research worldwide. In 2016, the company was acquired by Nielsen, the world’s largest research agency, in a landmark transaction that recognised both Repucom’s global market leadership and Paul’s exceptional business acumen as a founder and chief executive.
Paul’s entrepreneurial journey was marked by calculated risk-taking, sustained revenue growth, capital raising, strategic acquisitions and the successful establishment of businesses in emerging and expansion markets. Central to Repucom’s success was Paul’s ability to build high-performing teams and create a culture of alignment, accountability and ambition across multiple continents.
Educated in regional New South Wales, Paul attended school in Warilla, just south of Wollongong. He holds a Bachelor of Sports Administration from the University of Canberra and an Associate Diploma in Sports Science from the University of Wollongong—foundational qualifications that supported his rise in a highly competitive global industry.
Highly respected across the corporate world, Paul has been described by Crown Resorts Chairman Robert Rankin as “the classic entrepreneur who had the persistence to stick with the roll-out strategy, which took more time due to the GFC, but he adjusted and emerged so well.”
Today, Paul Smith draws on his lived experience of building a global number-one business to deliver compelling keynote presentations. His insights into leadership, resilience, culture and growth resonate strongly with organisations navigating complexity, disruption and international expansion. Paul’s presentations are practical, engaging and energising—designed to inspire individuals and organisations to perform at their best in an increasingly demanding global marketplace.
