BNP Paribas, a European leader in global banking and financial services, today announced its involvement as the title sponsor of the 2008 Taste of Tennis in New York City (www.bnpparibastasteoftennis.com).The event, produced by AYS Sports Marketing and benefiting The Food Bank for New York City, is set for Thursday, August 21st, 7-10 pm at the W New York Hotel. The sponsorship, which will run from April 29, 2008 to December 31, 2008, will make BNP Paribas the only title sponsor for the star studded event. This year’s lineup includes tennis superstars Andy Roddick, Jelena Jankovic, Lleyton Hewitt, Robby Ginepri, along with acclaimed chefs and food personalities such as Alfred Portale and John Delucie.
BNP Paribas has been involved with tennis for 35 years when the Bank started sponsoring Roland Garros (the French Open) in 1973. Since then, the bank has constantly strengthened its commitment to support tennis both locally and worldwide. The Bank has been title sponsor of the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas since 2001, of the Fed Cup by BNP Paribas since 2005, and of the BNP Paribas Masters since 1986, as well as other major international tournaments including the WTA Bank of the West Classic in California, the Master Series Monte Carlo and the Internazionali BNL d”Italia.
The title sponsorship of the 2008 Taste of Tennis will allow BNP Paribas to reach scores of tennis fans in the U.S. and allow them to become familiar with the bank and their initiatives.
“We are thrilled that BNP Paribas has chosen to be the title sponsor for the 2008 Taste of Tennis,” said Judi Lerner of AYS Sports Marketing. “The Taste of Tennis is the premiere event prior to the US Open and BNP Paribas will bring a touch of class to an already classy event.”
Michele Sicard, Head of Corporate Communications for BNP Paribas in North America said “We are delighted to partner with AYS Sports Marketing and become the title sponsor of this prestigious event, the BNP Paribas Taste of Tennis. BNP Paribas’s commitment to tennis is one of the longest in the history of the sport. It reflects the lasting relationship of trust that we develop with our clients every day.”
About AYS Sports Marketing:
AYS Sports Marketing is a full service event management company specializing in creating, managing and marketing unique sports and entertainment related events. This year’s BNP TASTE OF TENNIS features a number of marquee sponsors including BNP Paribas as title sponsor, Rums of Puerto Rico as presenting sponsor and W New York, Samsonite Black Label, McWilliam’s Wines, Cayman Islands Department of Tourism, Tennis Magazine, Tennis Channel and many others.
About BNP Paribas:
BNP Paribas (www.bnpparibas.com) is a European leader in global banking and financial services and is one of the 4 strongest banks in the world according to Standard & Poor’s. The group is present in over 85 countries, with almost 163,000 employees. The group holds key positions in three major segments: Corporate and Investment Banking, Asset Management & Services and Retail Banking. Present throughout Europe in all of its business lines, the bank’s two domestic markets in retail banking are France and Italy. In the United States, BNP Paribas employs 15,000 people including 2,500 employees in its Corporate and Investment Banking as well as Asset Management and Services businesses which are headquartered in New York. It is also present in other financial hubs throughout the United States including Chicago, San Francisco, Dallas, Houston, Miami and Boston. BNP Paribas also operates a retail banking business through its subsidiary Bank of the West with over 700 branches in the Western US.
BNP Paribas and tennis
In 2008, BNP Paribas will be celebrating the 35th anniversary of its partnership with tennis. Since 1973, BNP Paribas has been actively involved with the sport and has constantly strengthened its commitment since then--to support it both worldwide and locally, in family and school settings, and as a social activity.
As a result, BNP Paribas has historically been a privileged partner in all aspects of tennis: as an Official Sponsor of the French Open for 34 years, and a sponsor of the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas since 2001, of the Fed Cup by BNP Paribas since 2005, and of the BNP Paribas Masters since 1986, as well as other major international tournaments (WTA Bank of the West Classic in California, Master Series Monte Carlo, BNP Paribas Women’s Open in Strasbourg, Grand Prix de Lyon, etc.). BNP Paribas also supports tennis at the local level in France, with 550 tournaments, including the Trophée BNP Paribas de la Famille, various training programmes developed by the Fédération Française de Tennis, and Yannick Noah’s association Fête le Mur.
Contacts:
Dave Donovan, 212-685-4300
dave_donovan@dkcnews.com
or
BNP
Paribas
Edwina Frawley-Gangahar
Corporate Communications
212-841-3719
edwina.frawley@americas.bnpparibas.com
