London – Edelman UK, the UK’s largest independent public relations firm, is launching a new Sports & Sponsorship practice, strengthening the agency’s global sports offering. The practice will be hubbed out of JCPR, Edelman UK’s Consumer division, and will be headed up by Kate Gordon in the newly created role of UK Head of Sports and Sponsorship.
The move capitalises on the growing sports industry and increased corporate and consumer interest in spectator and participatory sports in the run up to London 2012.
Gordon spent nearly eight years in Edelman’s New York Sports practice, and brings 14 years of experience working in professional sports overall, including global and regional campaigns for leagues, teams, corporate sponsors and athletes.
She will be responsible for helping grow and develop the Sports & Sponsorship practice in the UK and across Europe. Reporting to JCPR Director Amanda Kiddle, she will also work closely with Mary Griswold, General Manager of Edelman’s Global Sports practice based in New York.
Comments Amanda Kiddle: “With major sporting events like Euro 2008 and the London 2012 Olympic Games approaching, we see a real opportunity to grow our sports expertise in the UK, both organically through existing clients, and externally with the many organisations that will be involved in these events.
“Kate’s expertise in this area and her relationships within the Olympic Movement will play an invaluable role in the development of this practice, and we are delighted to welcome her on board the UK team.”
Edelman’s global Sports & Sponsorship marketing practice is the largest of its kind at any agency. The team has worked for every major pro sports league and on every Olympiad since 1984, including seven clients during the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Torino. Edelman UK’s consumer arm, JCPR, also has years of expertise managing major consumer sports campaigns, including 02’s England Rugby sponsorship, the re-development of Wembley Stadium and, more recently, the Sabre-shortlisted Mars Believe campaign coinciding with the 2006 World Cup tournament.
Earlier this year Edelman announced a strategic alliance with specialist sport, brand and communications consultancy, VERO to boost its already strong credentials in this sector.
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