Sponsor Spotlight - TOP Sponsor CEO Pay; IOC, Visa Talk 25 Years

U.S. TOP Sponsor CEO Pay

Coca-Cola and Procter & Gamble's CEOs get pay increases while Dow, GE and Visa’s took pay cuts.

The New York Times published a report on June 17 with salary information for publicly-traded corporations in the U.S. Coca-Cola’s Muhktar Kent received a raise of 10 percent from last year, while P&G’s Robert McDonald received a 23 percent raise.

Meanwhile, GE’s Jeffrey Immelt took a 25 percent pay cut; Dow Chemical’s Andrew Liveris took a 12 percent pay cut, while Visa’s Joseph Saunders took an 8 percent reduction.

Kent was the highest paid of the CEOs with a salary of $21.2 million. McDonald received $16.2 million this year, while Liveris took home $15.6 million. Immelt and Saunders took home $11.3 million and $11 million respectively.

IOC, Visa Discuss Relationship

Visa chief marketing officer Antonio Lucio and IOC marketing director Timo Lumme discussed the two organizations' relationship at a Cannes Lions session.

Lumme likened the partnership between Visa and the IOC to a "deep relationship." Lumme went on to say "When you're dating, what do you look for in a partner? A deep relationship and understanding each other. After 25 years, that's what we've achieved with Visa; they take our brand, which we trust them with, and do marketing campaigns that reach out [to] people."

Visa’s "Go World" campaign is the latest in this 25-year sponsorship of the Olympic Games.

Facebook, GE Launch App

Users can get in the healthy mindset with a new Olympics themed app from GE and Facebook.

Named "HealthyShare," the app gives healthy-themed challenges to its users while allowing them to share health and fitness goals they have achieved through the app.

Present and past Olympians such as Michael Johnson, Kevin Durant and Summer Sanders give users health challenges inspired by these athletes.

Samsung’s Big Launch

Samsung’s launch of its new Galaxy III phone aims to be its biggest to date.

The Olympic sponsor plans on increasing its marketing budget for the new phone substantially. Reports say the electronics company plans on spending double the amount it spent on advertising all Galaxy products last year.

In 2011 Samsung spent $142 million on advertising its Galaxy line of electronics.

Cadbury Hospitality Area

England-based chocolate makers Cadbury have announced plans for an interactive area for the London Games.

Called "Cadbury House" the area will be located in Hyde Park and provide a tasting area for the company’s chocolate as well as an interactive game area where visitors can partake in Olympic-themed chocolate games.

Proctor & Gamble Cuts

For the second time in less than two months, Proctor & Gamble has cut its earnings and revenue forecast.

Due to reduced consumer spending in Europe and slow growth, the consumer goods giant’s share fell by 9.5 percent this year.

Spending Boost During Games

Visa estimates that around $1.31 billion could be spent during the London Olympic Games.

Using Visa spending data, the economic research firm SQW estimates that more than $7.8 billion could be spent by 2015 as a legacy from the Olympic Games. It's estimated that 79 percent of the post-Olympic benefits will be spent outside of London.

It's also estimated that $1.17 billion will be spent in London during the Games, representing an 18 percent increase from the spending that would have taken place in the seven-week period had the Games not taken place.

London retailers, hotels, entertainment venues, as well as restaurant establishments look to see the most benefit from the increased spending. The travel industry also looks to see a major benefit as well.

The findings were published in "Realizing a Golden Opportunity: Visa Europe's London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games Expenditure and Economic Impact Report."

Written by Aaron Bauer.

20 Years at #1: