MoneyGram Sees Green in India w/Cricket Affiliation
Global money transfer giant, MoneyGram International, has signed a sponsorship agreement with the International Cricket Council (ICC). Per the agreement, MoneyGram will have a presence at all ICC cricket tournaments around the world during 2011-2015. MoneyGram will also be a local partner level sponsor of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, which takes place in Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka.
"MoneyGram is delighted about our long-term sponsorship with the ICC," said Juan Agualimpia, senior vice president and chief marketing officer of MoneyGram International. "MoneyGram's brand and services are well known in 'cricket countries' and we are glad we can align ourselves with the heritage of the sport and bring ourselves closer to our customers."
"It is wonderful that MoneyGram has retained its involvement as a local partner for our flagship event, the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011. The extension says much about the value of our great sport and that we continue to attract and retain sponsors of the caliber of MoneyGram. The global reach of the MoneyGram network is such that ICC can promote its flagship cricket event in many new and exciting destinations worldwide."
The deal announced today is MoneyGram's second foray into sponsorship of the sport as the company sponsored the ICC's Twenty 20 World Cup 2010, held in May the West Indies.
"Cricket is the biggest game in the Indian Sub-continent and we take our sport seriously," said Harsh Lambah, regional director of South Asia for MoneyGram. "As a fan and a MoneyGram employee, I am excited about the potential we have to strengthen our brand in this important region through MoneyGram's sponsorship of ICC matches and the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011. I know our network of over 30,000 agent locations throughout India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are equally excited to be aligned with the World Cup through MoneyGram as their money transfer provider."
India, which has the largest base of cricket fans in the world, is one of the largest money transfer markets in the world with more than $48 billion in remittances sent to India in 2009, according to the World Bank.
