Global professional services firm Ernst & Young named as Glasgow 2014 sponsor

First Minister announces deal at Ernst and Young's new offices in Glasgow

Ernst & Young has signed a Tier 2 deal with Glasgow 2014 to become the Official Professional Advisor for the XX Commonwealth Games, strengthening the EY brand in Scotland, the UK, across the Commonwealth and beyond.

Lord Smith, Chairman of Glasgow 2014, the First Minister, Alex Salmond, and Douglas Nisbet, Ernst & Young’s Glasgow Office Managing Partner, announced the sponsorship deal at a ceremony to mark the official opening of Ernst & Young’s state of the art offices at G1 in George Square, in central Glasgow.

Commonwealth Games medallist Lee McConnell was also in attendance for the announcement.

The announcement is a proud moment for the firm, because Arthur Young, born in 1863 in Glasgow and educated later at Glasgow University, established Arthur Young & Company, before it merged with Ernst & Whinney in 1989 to create Ernst & Young.

Douglas Nisbet, Ernst & Young Glasgow office managing partner, said:

"We are extremely proud to be the first global business to pledge its support for Glasgow 2014 and believe our heritage, our history and our position at the heart of the city makes us a natural partner for the Games. Our aim of creating a sustainable legacy for our Scottish practice, underlined by the investment in our new office, mirrors the goals of the Games’ organisers.

"We are committed to providing Glasgow 2014 with world-class professional services support as we work together to achieve those goals and deliver a successful Games that Glasgow and Scotland can be proud of."

Glasgow 2014 Chairman Lord Smith said:

"Ernst & Young is a fantastic addition to the Glasgow 2014 family, and bring with them unparalleled expertise in professional services. By becoming an official supporter for the Games, they have made a strong statement of their support for this country by investing in what will be a truly outstanding Games.

"Working across the globe, Ernst & Young are successfully blending business, culture and sport in Scotland, for their clients, staff and the people of Glasgow."

First Minister Alex Salmond said:

"I’m delighted to welcome Ernst & Young as the third official supporter of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games announced in as many weeks. One of Ernst & Young's founders - Arthur Young - was born in Glasgow and it is fitting that the firm will now help bring this fantastic sporting event to his home city.

"The involvement of this major international company is a significant step forward for the Games, and its support, alongside that of the other sponsors, will help ensure that we see a fantastic Games delivered on time and on budget."

Gordon Matheson, Leader of Glasgow City Council said:

"I am delighted that a global company with historical connections to Glasgow is going to play such an important role in the Games. The expertise of Ernst & Young in a number of key areas will help ensure that Glasgow 2014 is an outstanding success."

Peter Nicolson, Commonwealth Games Scotland board member said:

"Commonwealth Games Scotland is delighted that Ernst & Young have signed up to provide a wide range of professional advisory services that are absolutely crucial to the complex business of delivering a spectacular, athlete-centred Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014. It is great to have a company of their standing on board with the added benefit of their strong interest in the global sports industry."

As part of this deal, Ernst & Young has committed to providing access to key individuals with multi-Games experience. Their team will be headed by Stephen Farrell, Commonwealth partner at Ernst & Young in Scotland, and will include David Leather, a partner at the firm who was the Deputy Chief Executive at Manchester 2002.

As a service to our readers, Around the Rings will provide verbatim texts of selected press releases issued by Olympic-related organizations, federations, businesses and sponsors.

These press releases appear as sent to Around the Rings and are not edited for spelling, grammar or punctuation.

Your complete source of news about the Olympics is www.aroundtherings.com, for subscribers only.