Global Ad Agency Takes Stake In JMI

Global ad holding company, WPP, has made a strategic investment in motorsport marketing agency, Just Marketing International. Spire Capital, which took a majority stake in JMI in 2008, remains the principal shareholder, with Zak Brown the second largest shareholder. JMI was founded by CEO Zak Brown, a former professional driver who thought there was untapped commercial potential in motorsport...

Gillette Streams Giant Jeter Congrats Card At Grand Central

After watching Jeter shave on the side of a SoHo skyscraper, the least New York fans could do is send him a thank you card. Commuters passing through Grand Central today will see a giant congratulations card with Derek Jeter's name on it, a promotion designed to help Gillette celebrate Jeter's 3,000th hit this past weekend. Commuters can scribble their notes on iPads being carried by brand amba...

MasterCard Tees Up British Open Sponsorship

MasterCard has signed a four-year deal to sponsor the British Open. According to BBC, the deal will start in 2012. The announcement comes as the 2011 Open gets set to tee off on Thursday. Read more about the deal here. photo credit

BMW Launches Line of Olympic Branded Beamers

Want your own Olympics-branded beamer? The German auto company has launched a 'Performance Edition' to celebrate BMW’s sponsorship of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The branded models come in BMW's classic 1 Series and 3 Series. BMW is the Official Automotive Partner of London 2012, and as part of the partnership, BMW will supply a range of Efficient Dynamic diesel cars, hybrids ...

NHL, Molson Coors Win Sponsorship Appeal

An Ontario Court of Appeal has ruled in favor of the NHL and Molson Coors, upholding the original $375-million sponsorship deal that Labatt contested. The NHL's beer category, which Labatt claimed it held pre-existing rights to, was sold to Molson Coors in February for what has been widely reported to be the largest sponsorship deal in NHL history. In June, an Ontario court complied with Labatt...

Chevrolet Renews As Official Vehicle of MLB

Coinciding with the MLB All Star Game tonight in Phoenix, Major League Baseball Properties and Chevrolet have announced a five year extension of their sponsorship agreement, maintaining Chevrolet as the "Official Vehicle of Major League Baseball." Chevrolet's exclusive deal began in 2005. Today's extension means Chevrolet will continue to be the presenting sponsor three of the game's top awards...

Planters Sponsors Peanut-Shaped Parks Throughout U.S.

Planters is sponsoring three urban park renewals throughout the U.S. this year, and as part of the deal, the parks are being reshaped in the form of a peanut. This week, DC is getting its turn. In response to our tweet, Darren Rovell from CNBC followed up with the question: "Idiotic or Genius?" and a flood of responses followed (see below). What's your take? Idiotic or genius sponsorship for Mr...

Budweiser Extends Daytona Deal

Budweiser will extended its sponsorship as the exclusive official beer sponsor of Daytona International Speedway and title sponsor for the Budweiser Shootout. As part of the multi-year renewal agreement, Budweiser will also begin a non-exclusive promotional partnership with Homestead-Miami Speedway in 2012. Under the terms of the agreement, Budweiser will maintain signage rights for all event...

MoMA Launches Major Partnership With Volkswagen

The Museum of Modern Art and Volkswagen today announced details of a major two-year partnership that will support an international contemporary art exhibition at MoMA PS1, the expansion of MoMA’s online course offerings beginning in March 2012 and a series of installations. Officials today said the deal with Volkswagen is the first partnership of this scale between the New York cultural institu...

Samsung Dials Up Glee Tour For 4G Promo

Samsung and AT&T have partnered with the upcoming Glee Live! In Concert! tour in North America to promote the Samsung Infuse 4G. Terms of the deal were not released. "AT&T is always looking for opportunities to connect with our customers and bring them closer to the people, places and events that matter most," said Eric Goldfeld, executive director, National Marketing, AT&T Mobili...