Chelsea FC have announced William Lawson’s as their new official whisky partner. 

The William Lawson’s logo will appear on exclusive co-branded products and supporters will be able to enter competitions to win exclusive ticket prizes and merchandise over the course of the two-year relationship.

Chelsea Chief Executive Ron Gourlay said: ‘We are very excited to be able to announce a partnership with William Lawson’s, which like Chelsea has enjoyed incredible growth over recent years.’

Bacardi Global Brands president Andy Gibson added: ‘We’re delighted to be teaming up with Chelsea Football Club, a club known for its success and winning mentality.

“William Lawson’s is a brand that has had incredible success to date and has big ambitions for future growth. We’re confident that this deal will help us to continue our upward trend.’

The National Hockey League has announced a partnership with Crest Canada, one of the country’s largest oral care brands, for the 2014-15 season. 

The Official Partner of the NHL has also signed NHL player Martin St. Louis as the official spokesperson for its newest product, Crest Sensi-Relief, which is available in stores nationwide.

Along with his wife, Heather, the St. Louis’ will be featured in a national print ad campaign this fall. St. Louis, winner of the 2003-04 Stanley Cup, has played in more than 1,000 games over his 15 seasons in the NHL. He is also the winner of numerous NHL Awards, including the 2003-04 Hart Trophy as League MVP, and is a six-time NHL All-Star.

“We’re thrilled to be partnering with the NHL on the launch of the new Crest Sensi-Relief toothpaste and Oral-B Sensi-Soft toothbrush,” said Victoria Maybee, Communications Manager for Crest Canada. “Hockey is a favourite Canadian pastime that highlights how we make the best of our long cold winters. With tooth sensitivity most often being triggered by cold food, drinks and cold air, we want to help Canadians bench sensitivity so they can really sink their teeth into the game.”

“Crest and Oral-B are powerful household names and through our partnership with these brands we have found a fantastic way to express to NHL fans a core product benefit of reducing tooth sensitivity through an engaging hockey-themed story,” said Kyle McMann, NHL Group VP, Integrated Sales. “The collaboration with NHL superstar Martin St. Louis will make our communication even more powerful, connecting fans to the player they already know on the ice in a meaningful way, while reinforcing the benefits these brands provide.”

Crest, Oral-B, Scope, and Fixodent will be introduced to the 2014-15 NHL season via a co-branded broadcast spot, digital vignettes, and on-site activations at NHL events.

The newly named United World Wrestling, medstore formerly FILA, cough and wrestling mat provider Taishan have signed a sponsorship agreement.

The deal, which will run through the end of 2020, is the first step in the wrestling federation’s attempt to increase the commercial presence of the sport.

The agreement was made official at a signing ceremony during the 2014 Wrestling World Championships in Tashkent, between United World Wrestling’s President Nenad Lalovic and Gang Cui, Executive Director of Taishan.

“Taishan came to me after wrestling was temporarily voted off the Olympic Programme,” said Lalovic.  “They told me that no matter what happened they wanted to be our partner and contribute to the sport of wrestling. That decision showed their commitment to the sport of wrestling worldwide.”

“We are extremely pleased to be an Official Sponsor of United World Wrestling,” said Cui. “Taishan sees this as long term partnership that will contribute to the sport of wrestling. We are fully committed and hope to innovate and contribute our expertise to wrestling competitions worldwide.”

Taishan will provide mats for international competitions and also work with United World Wrestling to distribute mats to resource-challenged countries in need of additional support.

“With Taishan we want to innovate our competition but also play a part in the development of wrestling,” said Lalovic. “With Taishan helping us build necessary infrastructure in countries that need resources to develop. This another step in changing our sport for the better.”

Taishan is the first of a selection of sponsors to be announced in the coming months. On Sunday, United World Wrestling, formerly known as FILA, adopted a new name, logo and visual identity, which has helped spur a growth in partnerships.

The Baku 2015 European Games Operations Committee (BEGOC) has teamed up with website management experts Sitecore to relaunch the official Baku 2015 site.

Sitecore, prostate who specialise in bespoke content management and digital marketing technology, capsule will provide support to the Baku 2015 web team as the countdown to the inaugural European Games continues.

The company has signed a supply and sponsorship agreement and will become an integral part of providing information around the European Games, generic which take place in Azerbaijan’s capital next year.

Simon Clegg, Chief Operating Officer of Baku 2015, said: “It is important for the inaugural European Games to have a strong online presence and an innovative website with original, high-quality content.

“Sitecore are internationally renowned for their ability to create and manage websites of the highest standard and to have their support is a huge boost to the web team here at the European Games.”

With a detailed focus on each of the 20 sports and 18 competition venues of the first European Games, the new Baku 2015 website has already been visited by fans from more than 130 countries around the world since its launch on 21 August.

Soren Bak Jepsen, President of Sitecore International, said: “Sitecore is honoured to be an Official Supporter of Baku 2015. We look forward to using our experience and abilities to bring the excitement of the European Games online. 

“The website features bold design and all content will be optimized for multiple device types and screens, so fans can connect with the Games at any time. 

“The site will also integrate social media commentary so sports fans around the world can engage with all of the action, and each other, in real-time.”

The deal means Sitecore has become the fourth Official Supporter of Baku 2015 after McDonald’s, Tickethour and Milla.

Swiss private banking group Julius Baer has been named the Exclusive Global Partner of the new FIA Formula E Championship, buy the world’s first fully-electric racing series.

The inaugural championship, ambulance which starts in Beijing on 13 September 2014, clinic includes 10 races in major cities around the globe. 

From September 2014 to June 2015, the championship will compete in the centre of 10 of the world’s leading cities – including Beijing, London, Berlin, Monte Carlo and Buenos Aires – racing around their iconic landmarks. For the inaugural season, 10 teams, each with two drivers, will go head-to-head, including among others former Formula 1 drivers Lucas di Grassi, Nick Heidfeld, Jarno Trulli, Sébastien Buemi, Nelson Piquet Jr and Bruno Senna as well as two female drivers, Michela Cerruti and Katherine Legge. There will be both a drivers’ and a teams’ championship.

All Formula E races will be one-day events on city-centre circuits with practice, qualifying and the race taking place on a single day in order to minimise disruption to the host city. The races will begin by standing start and last for approximately one hour with drivers making one mandatory pit stop in order to change cars. The cars have a maximum speed of 225 km/h and are at top speed slightly louder than an ordinary car.

Starting with the first race in Beijing on 13 September 2014, Julius Baer will be the exclusive Global Partner of Formula E. Its logo will be prominently shown both on the cars and on the race tracks. For the Bank, Formula E with its visionary approach and global reach is an ideal sponsorship platform as the new race series stands for many values Julius Baer shares, such as innovation, sustainability and forward-looking pioneering spirit.

“We are excited to support the FIA Formula E Championship as its exclusive Global Partner. This gives us the unique opportunity to get involved in the world’s first fully-electric racing series which fosters innovation towards more sustainable means of transport. Formula E provides us with a first-rate global platform to share this bold vision with our clients,” said Boris F.J. Collardi, Chief Executive Officer of Julius Baer.

Alejandro Agag, CEO of Formula E, said: “We’re delighted to be welcoming Julius Baer to the Formula E family and to see their commitment and support to clean energy and sustainability. To be able to announce a major global partner of this stature on the eve of the first race is very exciting, and shows the continued strength and momentum of the series.”

Premiership Rugby has announced a partnership with Japanese imaging and electronics specialist, Ricoh.

The long-term partnership will see Ricoh’s branding in stadium via perimeter advertising boards for all Aviva Premiership Rugby matches and will commence from this weekend for the entire 2014-15 season.

The 2015-2016 season onwards will see Ricoh’s branding also appearing on big screens at every Television Match Official decision together with regional activation based around each Premiership Rugby club.

Dominic Hayes, Premiership Rugby’s Commercial Director said, “There has never been a better time to partner with Premiership Rugby and we are delighted that Ricoh is coming on board.

“We look forward to developing a successful and meaningful relationship. In recent weeks we have announced new relationships with Trivento Wine and Citizen Watches so we are delighted to welcome another world-class brand into the Premiership Rugby family.”

Electronics solution company Molex Incorporated has announced it will sponsor China Racing for its debut in the inaugural season of the FIA Formula E Championship.

The FIA Formula E Championship will commence on September 13, 2014 in Beijing, China where ten teams will go head-to-head around the grounds of China’s iconic Olympic Stadium. 

“As one of the world’s leading providers of electronic solutions, we feel this sponsorship provides Molex with the opportunity to illustrate its commitment to developing products that help advance the automotive industry,” said Mark Rettig, global marketing director, transportation business unit, Molex.

“We have a long history of designing small footprint, high-performance interconnects that excel in heavy-duty powertrain and body-electronic applications, making our products ideal to address many of the challenges found in today’s evolving automotive applications.”

The deal follows Mouser Electronics announcing it will also sponsor the team.

The managing director of ESPN Star Sports India, R C Venkateish, has resigned with immediate effect after seven years in the job.

In a statement issued by the network it said Venkateish is moving on “to pursue other interests”. The decision to part ways was mutual, the statement adds.

While it is too soon to name Venkateish’s replacement, his number two and ESPN Software India (ESI) COO,  Vijay Rajput, will act as general manager in the mean time.

Confirming Venkateish’s departure, managing Director of ESPN Star Sports Asia, Manu Sawhney, said: “Over the past seven years since his appointment in 2003, Venki has made a significant contribution to the business in India.

“Working closely with the team, Venki, with his passion and dedication, has further strengthened our powerful ESPN, Star Sports and Star Cricket brands across the South Asia region. We thank Venki for his contributions and wish him all the best for the future.

“Vijay Rajput, chief operating officer – ESI, who has been a key member of the ESI management team for over 12 years and who has worked closely on various key facets of the business in India, including finance and legal & sales, will act as the general manager of ESI in the interim until we announce Venki’s successor.”

Venkateish himself said: “I would like to thank everyone at ESPN Star Sports India for their support in the past seven years. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with the team which I believe is the best in the industry.

“Their commitment, passion and dedication has helped the company build a formidable base from which to continue its development and I am confident that it will continue to further grow for years to come.”

He added: “I will take a break for a month and then will explore options in a similar space.”