Africa

The Bacardi drinks group is switching the emphasis of its marketing strategy from above-the-line advertising to sponsorship and experiential-based marketing in a move led by the return of Martini Racing to Formula One motorsport as title sponsor of the Williams F1 team.

German sportswear company Puma has announced it will continue as the official technical and apparel sponsor of South African Super Rugby team the Cheetahs until beyond the 2016 rugby union season.

Boston-based global insurance company Liberty Mutual Group has a diversified and varied portfolio of sponsorship assets and partnerships in 26 different markets around the world. Its Irish division is using an innovative sponsorship around Gaelic sports to show its commitment in a new market.

South African holdings company MicroMega has reached an agreement to become an official sponsor of the Sharks Super Rugby franchise.

Global payment brand MasterCard is in renewal talks for the final Worldwide Partner position at next year’s Rugby World Cup in England, as organisers seek to renew all six top-tier sponsors from the 2…

Barclays bank will end its title sponsorship of the English Premier League when its current £40m (€49m/$67m)-per-year contract concludes at the end of the 2015-16 season, Sports Sponsorship Insider un…

Sporting goods brand Puma’s five-year kit sponsorship deal with English Premier League club Arsenal is part of a strategy focused on fewer, but bigger, “killer” deals to make it the number three brand in the football market, Christian Voigt, Puma’s senior head of global sports marketing has told Sports Sponsorship Insider.

Italian swimwear company Arena outbid rival Speedo to sign its Official Partner deal with Fina, the world governing body for swimming, last month

South African rugby union team Golden Lions has announced a three-year deal to make document solutions company Xerox its new title sponsor for the domestic Currie Cup tournament.

South African rugby union franchise Golden Lions has agreed a two-year sponsorship deal with Jonsson Workwear.

Kenya Breweries Limited has agreed a three-year sponsorship deal with the Kenya Rugby Union which will promote its flagship Tusker Lager brand through association with the national team.
 

Cricket South Africa has announced a new partnership with optometrists group Spec-Savers.

Fast food restaurant McDonald’s’ franchisee programme sees each store contribute a cash fee to the brand’s global sponsorships of the Olympic Games and the World Cup, Thomas Truttmann, head of sports at McDonald’s Europe told Sports Sponsorship Insider.

Sports betting company BetXchange has expanded its partnership with African mixed martial arts series EFC Africa by taking on a one-year headline sponsorship.

Carmaker Audi’s far-reaching involvement in winter sports sits as one of four cornerstones in the brand’s wider sponsorship approach, Florian Zitzlsperger, head of sports marketing at Audi, told Sports Sponsorship Insider. The three remaining cornerstones in Audi’s wider strategy are: motorsport, football and golf.

Banking group First Capital Plus Bank has agreed a five-year deal with the Ghana Football Association to become the title sponsor of the country’s top flight football division.

Agricultural services and diversified foods group AFGRI has agreed a sponsorship deal with South African rugby union club Blue Bulls, which competes in the Super Rugby competition.

US sportswear company Nike has agreed a five-year partnership with the South African Football Association to become the governing body’s new technical sponsor from February 1.