United forge global partnership with Swiss watchmaker
MANCHESTER United has unveiled TAG Heuer as its new official timekeeper and global partner.
The three-year agreement between the Swiss Avant-Garde watchmaker and the world’s most popular football club has been celebrated in Beijing with United players.
The first team is currently in China for its pre-season tour.
To mark their arrival in the capital, players joined Manchester United commercial director Jamie Reigle and Loic Biver, head of marketing of LVMH Watch & Jewellery Greater China, to herald a new phase in their companies’ history with this global partnership.
United Ambassadors Ji-sung Park and Denis Irwin, two of the club’s most decorated players (who between them notched 11 Premier League titles and two Champions Leagues), were also at the event along with Leo Poon, TAG Heuer general manager of Greater China.
When the team returns to launch its Premier League campaign for 2016/17, TAG Heuer will feature on digital advertising boards at Old Trafford.
Specially-crafted TAG Heuer timepieces will be displayed around Manchester United’s stadium, including in the team’s dressing room, as well as the club’s Aon Training Complex and its offices in Manchester, London and Hong Kong.
Manchester United’s Group managing director, Richard Arnold said: “This key partnership has been struck at a very exciting moment in our history.
“Led by our new manager we’re proud to be in China, where we enjoy vast and loyal support, preparing for an important season ahead.
“In TAG Heuer, we have a partner that will naturally be well-equipped to support us, not least because we share so much. Our rich history can be traced back to the same era; we’ve both overcome challenges and come out stronger in our quest for the highest level of performance. Our prestige is down to our unrelenting commitment to be pioneers.
Jean-Claude Biver, TAG Heuer chief executive and president of the LVMH Watch Division said: “Manchester United is the most prestigious football team in the world and getting into football at the highest level is for me very important.
“TAG Heuer doesn’t ‘sponsor’, we ‘partner’ with iconic teams, organisations, and people who share similar values and a strong vision.”
