Ryan moves to RYA

Former GBR Challenge Head of Sponsorship to sell Team GBR

Right now most people are focusing on the Olympic selection bid for 2012. With the announcement deadline of 6 July and hopes for the London bid being successful are running high. In the meantime Team GBR have been hard at work on their programme for the next 4 years in the build up to the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

The last few months have seen the sponsorship agency Capitalize carrying out a full Olympic programme commercial review together with Olympic Manager Stephen Park. With lottery funding confirmed for the sailing team, a new proposition is being developed to allow additional corporate sponsor partners to get further involved in this programme and take advantage of the clear benefits.

This week, Leslie Ryan joins the team as the new Commercial & Sponsorship manager working on the Team GBR account. Previously Leslie has worked as the Head of Sponsorship & Marketing for GBR Challenge, the British America’s Cup Team, and has useful experience in building up a national team brand and profile and packaging up a suitable partnership proposition to bring onboard the required corporate partners.

Leslie Ryan commented “I am really excited by this new opportunity as I have always wanted to get involved in the Olympic Games. I am sure that this dynamic four year programme, as well as the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing will offer fantastic commercial opportunities for corporate partners. Team GBR has such a great track record to build on so I know we can offer a guaranteed return for any partner getting involved.”

Leslie will work with Capitalize, the sponsorship agency that has been working with the RYA on this project since September 2004 and plans to roll out the new sponsorship programme immediately in order to get partners on board as soon as possible and to start delivering the benefits of sponsorship from summer 2005 onwards.

For further information contact:

Leslie Ryan
leslieryan@rya.org.uk