Cristiano Ronaldo Becomes New Face of Watch Brand Jacob & Co

Soccer superstar, mind Cristiano Ronaldo has become the ambassador of watch and jewelry maker Jacob & Co., order which will be exploited in a major advertising campaign. 

Ronaldo, search a forward for Real Madrid and captain of the Portuguese national team, is a long-standing client of the New York-based brand.

“I’ve been a customer and fan of the brand for a long time so it is a natural fit. I always used Jacob watches, even before I knew Jacob,” said Ronaldo, referring to Jacob Arabo, the founder of Jacob & Co. “The brand absolutely stands for leadership in creativity. As a collector of the world’s finest watches, it’s obvious [to me] how much passion Jacob & Co. has for quality. On the set, I fell in love with the new Ghost watch. It’s a perfect fit for my lifestyle as I’m constantly traveling internationally.”

The advertisements feature Ronaldo with Jacob & Co.’s new Ghost and SF 24 models, both of which offer multi-time-zone features and will make their debut at the Baselworld trade show at the end of this month.

The high-profile campaign comes as Jacob & Co. aims to reinvent itself following a rocky chapter in its history. Arabo, once known as the “King of Bling” for his iced-out designs for a long roster of hip-hop and Hollywood clients, spent almost two years in federal prison from 2009 to 2010. He was charged with falsifying records and lying to agents who were investigating money laundering by a Detroit-based narcotics ring called the Black Mafia Family.

“I think it signifies a complete re-launch of Jacob & Co.,” said Jacob CEO, Chris Del Gatto of the Ronaldo campaign. “He is one of the most famous soccer players in the world, but more than that he’s one of the most respected athletes in the world. He has attributes that we really feel mirror the Jacob & Co. brand. He’s superstylish, very smart, cares about how he looks and works really hard to stay on top of his game.”

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ASUS Inks Deal with MLSE to Sponsor Toronto Maple Leafs

ASUS has entered into a three-year sponsorship deal with Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) with the Taiwanese multinational computer company becoming the exclusive personal computer, notebook, and tablet provider of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Through the partnership, the ASUS brand will be highly visible throughout the Air Canada Centre through an in-arena advertising initiative. The company will also air product spots on Leafs TV, and have an online presence within MLSE’s digital and social media platforms.

What’s more, the Air Canada Centre broadcast studio and the General Manager’s suite will integrate ASUS products.

“We are incredibly thrilled to partner with such a cutting edge sports and entertainment organization like MLSE,” says Cecilia Choy, Marketing Manager, ASUS. “As we grow our brand in Canada we are focused on finding partners who share our passion for creating innovative and quality-driven experiences for our audiences. MLSE has taken pride in establishing an emotional connection with its fan base over the last century and this partnership opens the door to a new and exciting market.”

David Beckham Becomes Sky Ambassador

Global soccer superstar, David Beckham has been announced as the new Sky ambassador. 

The former Manchester United and Real Madrid star will play a leading role across the breadth of Sky’s work to support grassroots sport and encourage participation across Britain and Ireland. He will also feature in adverts to promote the unrivalled range of sport and innovative services offered by Sky.

In his role as a Sky ambassador, he will help to use the power of sport to change lives through the successful Sky Sports Living for Sport initiative. 

In joining Sky, Beckham teams up with other sporting icons who are part of the company’s strong and deep-rooted support for British sport and grassroots participation. They include Olympic gold medallist Jessica Ennis CBE, who became an ambassador for Sky Sports last year; Sir David Brailsford, Principal of Team Sky and the architect behind the exceptional performance of British Cycling; and Sir Bradley Wiggins five times Olympic gold medallist and first ever British winner of the Tour de France.

Beckham said: “Sky have followed my career since I broke into the Manchester United first team. They have done a huge amount to promote and encourage involvement in sport in Britain and I’m delighted to be joining them.

“I’ve always been passionate about the importance of sport in the lives of young people. It’s not all about winning; just getting involved in sport gives you confidence and skills for life. I was lucky to have some amazing role models when I was younger, and I’m excited about the opportunity to work with Sky to pass on some of that knowledge to the next generation.”

Jeremy Darroch, Sky’s chief executive, added: “It’s great to welcome David to Sky. Sport is at the heart of what we do and both we and David believe in its power to excite, inspire and change lives. As a hero and inspiration on and off the field, David is a perfect ambassador to help us get more people involved in sport.”

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Key Power to Sponsor Singapore Athletic Association

The Singapore Athletic Association (SAA) has signed a new apparel sponsor in Key Power International (KPI), the local distributor of Brooks and 2XU.

The three-year product sponsorship deal, which starts this year and is worth about $150,000 annually, will see Singapore’s track and field athletes decked in either of the brands in all competitions.

It is also the association’s biggest apparel sponsorship deal to date.

European Tour Rookie Eddie Pepperell Gets Cyber Security Firm as Sponsor

Recent Challenge Tour graduate, click Eddie Pepperell, has agreed a sponsorship agreement with Dionach Ltd, an independent global Cyber Security company.

Since turning professional, Eddie has had a number of impressive results on various tours, including a maiden win on the Challenge Tour in 2012. His victory at the Allianz Open Cote’s D’Armor in May 2012 secured his playing rights on the Challenge Tour and an impressive run towards the end of the season saw him finish 13th on the Challenge Tour rankings to secure his European Tour card for 2013.

Having made four cuts already this year on the European Tour, including a 22nd place finish at the Africa Open, Eddie is proving that he has a very bright future ahead of him.

The agreement with Dionach will see Pepperell become an ambassador for the company, as well as displaying their corporate logo on the sleeve of his clothing.

With their HQ based in Oxfordshire, but with international offices in the Netherlands and the United Arab Emirates, Dionach saw a mutual fit in partnering with Pepperell who is from nearby Abingdon in Oxfordshire but has an international playing schedule.

Rob Embers, Business Development Director of Dionach was pleased to announce the sponsorship: “We are very pleased to be sponsoring such a talented sportsman in Eddie, who has goals to really further himself in the world of golf. This fits very well with Dionach’s own ambitions to enter new global markets and continue to raise the awareness of Cyber Security and the impact that it is having on businesses and society.”

Pepperell was equally as pleased and commented: “I’m delighted to be announcing this partnership with Dionach and I’m very grateful to have the backing of a local company here in Oxfordshire. It’s an exciting time for me in my first year on the European Tour so I hope that I can provide them with some good exposure internationally when out on tour.”

European Golf Course Owners Association Renews Toro Partnership

TORO, ailment an industry leader in turf maintenance machinery and Irrigation systems has extended its partnership with the European Golf Course Owners Association (EGCOA) for a further three-years.

TORO has been the preferred supplier of the EGCOA since the inauguration of the organisation in 2006.

The company  which has been around since 1914, medic has been actively involved as a partner in the European Multi Course Owners Meeting hosted annually by the EGCOA at the European Golf Business Conference along with continued interaction with EGCOA members.

‘TORO has been a fantastic supporter of the EGCOA since the start of our organisation providing us with a strong foundation for growth. Their on-going support has greatly assisted us to develop now into an organisation representing more than 950 golf facilities across Europe. Their dedication and support of not only our organisation but the industry as a whole drives business forward and facilitates the growth of the industry. We are looking forward to continuing our partnership with TORO and are honored to have the support of such a market leading organisation’ says EGCOA Director Lodewijk Klootwijk.

‘We strongly believe that the Toro–EGCOA partnership is a great fit. Both parties are committed to growing the game of golf in Europe,” said John McPhee, Director of Marketing for Toro International. “Owners, superintendents and club managers around the world count on Toro for innovative products that provide reliable performance, while helping them increase course playability and profitability. We are excited to continue our partnership with an outstanding organization that continues to grow within the industry.’

SAG TUBI Extends Gresini Racing MotoGP & Moto3 Sponsorship

SAG TUBI has announced they have extended their sponsorship agreement of MotoGP and Moto3 team, Gresini Racing.

SAG TUBI has been a sponsor of Fausto Gresini’s team since 2011.. 

In 2013 the colours of SAG TUBI will be present not only on the Gresini Racing team in MotoGP but also in Moto3.

Walter Zini, CEO of Sag Tubi group, said “I am happy to announce that we have extended our sponsorship agreement with Fausto Gresini. The SAG TUBI brand will sit alongside the colours of Team GO&FUN Honda Gresini in MotoGP and this year also in Moto3. I believe in this project and I admire the commitment that Gresini shows to tackling new challenges. It is rare to find such optimism these days and it certainly links the values of our business with that of Gresini Racing.” 

Fausto Gresini Manager of Team GO&FUN Honda Gresini, added: “I am very proud to be extending our collaboration with SAG TUBI in MotoGP and to have them joining in with our project in Moto3. The strength of the values that underline this relationship are extremely important to us. To have the support of a company like SAG TUBI and for them to show such belief in our project is inspiring and positive. We will work hard to make sure they enjoy great success together with us.”

Land Rover America to Sponsor Prince Harry’s Sentebale Royal Salute Polo Cup

The north american entity of British car manufacturer, prescription Land Rover, sales today announced that they will be the Official Team Sponsor of the 2013 Sentebale Royal Salute Polo Cup, ailment to be held at the Greenwich Polo Club in Greenwich, Connecticut, United States on Wednesday, May15 2013.

This is the first time the Sentebale Royal Salute Polo Cup will be played in the United States and the third year Royal Salute will partner with Sentebale, the charity founded in 2006 by Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso in memory of their mothers. Sentebale means ‘forget-me-not’ in Sesotho, the language spoken in Lesotho and the charity works with local grassroots organizations to help some of Lesotho’s most vulnerable children get the support they need to lead healthy and productive lives.

“Land Rover has a history of supporting this event and is honored to continue its partnership with the 2013 Sentebale Royal Salute Polo Cup in an effort to raise resources for those in need,” said Kim McCullough, Brand Vice President, Land Rover North America. “We look forward to an exciting match and are delighted to be associated with such a worthwhile cause.”

Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso launched the annual polo event to raise funds and awareness for Sentebale and Prince Harry will be playing for the Sentebale Land Rover team, against Nacho Figueras, who will play for the St. Regis team.

“Polo matches are fun and a great activity for families and people of all ages,” said Donna Jones, senior design assistant at Crooked Brook where they specialize in custom polo shirts. “One of our most popular promotional apparel items is promotional polo shirts because they make great corporate gifts and are an excellent way to build brand recognition and promote a business.”

Citizen Becomes Official Timing Partner of ATP’s bet-at-home Cup

Citizen, the Japanese watch manufacturer, is to become the new Timing Partner of ATP’s bet-at-home Cup in Kitzbühel.

The agreement was broquered by international sports marketing company Infront Sports & Media, together with the tournament organisers Kitzbühel Tennis Club (KTC).

As timing sponsor, Citizen will receive an extensive advertising presence on and off the court. This includes branding on the timing display at the Centre Court, spots on the stadium video wall and board advertising on two additional Match Courts. Citizen will also receive a hospitality contingent alongside other advertising and promotional opportunities on site. 

Herbert Günther, President of the Kitzbühel Tennis Club, is excited about the new partnership: “With Citizen, we have another international sponsor that has recognised the great potential of the Kitzbühel tournament. Together with Citizen we will continue to build on the positive development of the tournament into the future.” 

The tournament guarantees Citizen excellent worldwide media exposure with broadcast coverage in more than 100 countries as well as an attractive platform for customers and business partners.

Managing Director of Citizen Europe, Takashi Yamamoto, said: “For many years Citizen has been recognised for its sportive and innovative watches and has a well-established and strong connection to tennis. We are pleased to resume our commitment to the sport in Europe as the official Timing Sponsor of the time-honoured Kitzbühel tournament and to have the KTC by our side as a strong and successful partner.”

“With Citizen, we have another international sponsor that has recognised the great potential of the Kitzbühel tournament. Together with Citizen we will continue to build on the positive development of the tournament into the future,” said Herbert Günther, President of the Kitzbühel Tennis Club.

Jack Wolfskin Renews Sponsorship Agreements with Liverpool & Fulham

German outdoor clothing outfitter, Jack Wolfskin has announced two new sponsorship extensions today with English Premier League teams Liverpool and Fulham.

Jack Wolfskin will return for the next two seasons as Fulham’s Official Outdoor Equipment Partner until the end of the 2014-15 campaign. They initially began their relationship in 2010.

Fulham FC Chief Executive, Alistair Mackintosh, said: “The Club has developed an excellent working relationship with Jack Wolfskin over the past few years. Barclays Premier League matches are broadcast live in over 200 countries worldwide and I’m delighted that over the next two seasons with Fulham FC, Jack Wolfskin will continue to raise the profile of its brand both in the UK and globally.”

Jack Wolfskin Chief Marketing Officer, Elke Stein, said: “The past year has shown how our investments have really paid off for the brand. We were able to significantly raise our profile and the expansion of our sponsorship activities will undoubtedly reinforce and promote this development.”

While Liverpool’s partnership with Jack Wolfskin, which began in 2010, will go into the 2015/16 season.

Liverpool FC’s chief commercial officer, Billy Hogan, said: “We are delighted to renew our partnership with Jack Wolfskin, one of the world’s leading outdoor brands.

“We’ve worked hard to develop campaigns that benefit our fans, Jack Wolfskin, and the club. In partnership, we have achieved a unique balance, and we are thrilled to extend our relationship with Jack Wolfskin for a longer term with the club.”

Elke Stein, said: “For three years we have seen first-hand the benefits of a partnership with Liverpool FC. The club has a phenomenal reach, which has helped raise awareness of our brand in key markets.

“The lure of the Premier League goes further than just Great Britain. Liverpool FC matches are broadcast in important markets for us, such as China and Russia, helping to raise the profile of Jack Wolfskin.”