Collins, who joins Leisurecorp from Octagon where he was Vice President - Golf, has over a decade of experience working in the sports marketing industry and is delighted with his new role.

He said: "The Dubai World Championship presents one of the most exclusive sponsorship opportunities in sport. The Race to Dubai is already creating headlines across the globe, which is reflected by strong levels of interest in many sections of the corporate community.

"We will seek to capitalise on this excitement and anticipation by providing a select number of premium partners with access to the richest golf tournament the world has ever seen, as well as to our associated golf properties and a schedule of benefits that transcends traditional sponsorship.

In his new role, Collins will procure and manage relationships with premium global partners for the Dubai World Championship, the world's richest golf tournament which will take place at Leisurecorp's flagship development, Jumeirah Golf Estates, from November 19 to 22 next year.

The Dubai World Championship represents the climax of The Race to Dubai, the season-long competition which features 53 tournaments in 28 destinations and replaces The European Tour Order of Merit.

These are the key elements of the partnership between The European Tour and Leisurecorp that is changing the face of professional golf.

Collins spent eight years at Octagon working with sponsor clients across a variety of sports, but specialising in golf having previously held similar roles at other leading agencies including TWI/IMG. As Vice President - Golf, he worked with the Octagon's global management team as well as with key golf personnel and clients worldwide.

His primary responsibility was to devise global golf sponsorship strategies which involved handling major rights negotiations, talent procurement and planning activation programmes.

This experience has allowed him to develop solid relationships with golf's key stakeholders including governing bodies, players and their representatives, the media and sponsors.

Commenting on Collins' appointment, Alan Rogers, Leisurecorp's Chief Executive Officer, said: "David has a creative, client-led approach to golf sponsorship. This will be fundamental to us developing first-class global partnership programmes for the premium sponsors that the Dubai World Championship will attract."

Leisurecorp was established by Dubai World in July 2006, to identify, acquire, develop and manage a portfolio of investments in the sports and leisure sectors in Dubai and across the world.

Its portfolio includes

- Jumeirah Golf Estates, Dubai's premier residential golf community

- Pearl Valley Golf Estates, South Africa's leading residential golf community, which will host the South African Open for the next two years

- a major shareholding in Island Global Yachting, the premier owner, developer and manager of luxury marinas;

- a stake in Troon Golf, the world's leading luxury-brand golf management, development and marketing company;

- a shareholding in GPS Industries, the provider of Wi-Fi enabled global positioning systems (GPS) for golf and residential communities;

- and a stake in Snowmass Colorado, a 2.8 million square foot re-development of one of North America's premier ski resorts.

In November 2007, Leisurecorp announced a wide-ranging partnership with The European Tour which will create The Dubai World Championship, the world's richest golf tournament with a US$10,000,000 prize fund.

To be held annually at Jumeirah Golf Estates, the tournament will be open to the players numbered 1- 60 on The Race to Dubai - formerly The European Tour Order of Merit - with players being given the opportunity to compete for an additional US$10,000,000 bonus fund.

From 2009, Jumeirah Golf Estates will also become home to The European Tour's International Headquarters.

In October 2008, Leisurecorp acquired Turnberry in Scotland, the host venue for the 2009 Open Championship, from Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide.