Greg Miall appointed Commercial Director for Volvo Ocean Race
Alicante, Spain – 25 January 2010 – Greg Miall (36) has joined the Volvo Ocean Race, due to start on its 11th race around the world in the autumn of 2011, as Commercial Director.
Miall is the former Managing Director of Sport magazine in the UK, and Global Sales Director of newspaper group Metro International. With a background in sponsorship activation, global media and innovative partnerships, he brings considerable commercial experience and influence to this 37-year old global event.
The Volvo Ocean Race is the F1 of sailing, with high-tech teams racing around the world to some of the most interesting venues. Miall’s role encompasses all commercial activities including working with major sponsors to bring on board new teams, venue negotiations across six continents and supplier partnerships across all aspects of the event.
Also joining the commercial team as Brand Manager is New Zealander Gavin Brown (40), formerly responsible for merchandising strategy at the America’s Cup. Brown will be responsible for the look and feel of the next edition of the Volvo Ocean Race in addition to managing the appointment of official product licensees.
In hiring his team for the 2011-12 race, Volvo Ocean Race CEO Knut Frostad has taken a significantly different approach.
“We have employed the services of top headhunting firm Egon Zender International to select forward thinking and highly motivated candidates from outside the sailing industry. Today’s announcement is the first of several we will be making throughout the spring, as we continue to build our team from the most professional people,” Frostad explained.
Miall, who started work this week in Spain, is looking forward to the different challenges the event offers.
“The Volvo Ocean Race is an incredibly exciting event to be working on with an excellent vision for the future. I am looking forward to working with sponsors and partners to make the next race the most successful yet.”
For media information on the Volvo Ocean Race, please contact:
Lizzie (Green) Ward – Press Officer (in UK)
Mob +44 7801 185 320
lizzie.ward@VolvoOceanRace.com
Or
Sophie Luther – International Press Officer (in Spain)
Tel + 34 966 011 152 Mob +34 606 894 940
Sophie.luther@volvooceanrace.com
Images
High resolution images can be downloaded from http://images.volvooceanrace.com
Tim Stonton, Picture Desk Manager (in Spain)
Tel +34 966 011 151 Mob +34 606 905 497
tim.stonton@volvooceanrace.com
Full press information can be read and downloaded from http://press.volvooceanrace.com
Editors’ Notes: The Volvo Ocean Race
• The next Volvo Ocean Race will start in the Spanish port of Alicante in the autumn of 2011.
• The boat design is regulated and built for speed whilst safety remains a key concern.
• The first 31,250 nautical-mile race first took place over 37 years ago (as the Whitbread Round the World Race 1973-74), testing the crews against some of the most ferocious elements that man can encounter. The 2011-12 race will be the 11th edition of the event.