ECB and VERO Communications launch �One Game� Campaign

6 September 2007

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and VERO Communications this week launched a campaign aimed at promoting cricket as a force for social good. The ECB envisages that the �One Game� Campaign will widen the appeal of cricket while celebrating the diversity that already exists within the game. VERO developed the campaign ideas following a workshop with the ECB and its stakeholders.

VERO focused on the themes at the heart of the ECB�s vision for a fully inclusive game: driving equality and embracing everyone regardless of age, race, ability or gender. A short promo, developed by VERO and the ECB in conjunction with creative collective Wilder was launched at The Brit Oval on Wednesday, September 5th during the NatWest one-day international between England and India.

The film shows a single game of cricket played across the country and features players from the England team, including Kevin Pietersen and Monty Panesar, and Isa Guha of the England women�s team, to village cricketers and children playing in schools and in the park.

The One Game campaign runs right up to the Twenty20 World Championships hosted by the UK in 2009 and will form the cornerstone of all the ECB�s equality and inclusive policies. The promo will now be shown at international grounds around the country, in schools and at cricket academies.

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DOHA 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games Bid Appoints VERO Communications

3 September 2007

VERO Communications has been appointed by the Doha 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Bid Committee to lead the development of its global communications strategy. The account will be led by Mike Lee OBE, VERO Chief Executive and former Director of Communications and Public Affairs for London’s successful 2012 Games bid.

As well as providing strategic communications counsel, VERO will also oversee the roll-out of Doha 2016’s global PR, which will be implemented by Burson-Marsteller. Mike Lee will be a member of the Doha 2016 senior bid team reporting to Bid Chairman Hassan Ali Bin Ali.

Doha, the capital city of Qatar, is the first city in the Middle East to bid for the Olympic and Paralympic Games and successfully hosted the 2006 Asian Games.

Commenting on VERO’s appointment, Mike Lee said: "Doha 2016 is a hugely exciting bid and VERO is delighted to be a part of it. As the first Middle Eastern city to bid for an Olympic and Paralympic Games, the communication opportunities are unique and I and my team will be looking to embed those within the heart of the campaign and bring them alive. Doha has fantastic sporting infrastructure and a huge political desire to host the Games. This mixed with the geopolitical implications that come from being the first Arab bid city makes Doha a truly exciting candidate."

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will vote to decide the host for the 2016 Games in October 2009.

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Former Barclays Group Sponsorship Director Joins VERO Communications

9 August 2007

VERO, the campaign communications consultancy founded by Mike Lee OBE, today announced the appointment of its latest recruit.

Nic Gault, formerly Group Sponsorship Director for Barclays and Sponsorship Director at Barclaycard, has joined VERO as Director of Strategic Development. Bringing with him more than 15 years brand development, marketing, communications and commercial experience, Gault�s appointment is a reflection of VERO�s recent growth and success.

CEO Mike Lee said: �I am delighted that VERO has been able to attract such an outstanding individual as Nic. His experience working at the most senior level in consumer and corporate marketing and brand communications across football, Formula One, the Olympic and Paralympic Games and the public sector fits perfectly with VERO�s client base and our vision for building the business going forwards. His decision to join us against stiff competition says much about how far VERO has come in such a short space of time and I know he will be a real asset to our clients.�

Gault said: �I was highly impressed by VERO�s unique proposition, their ambition, the calibre of their people and of course, Mike Lee�s success for the London 2012 bid. The range of business now in VERO�s portfolio is exceptional and I�m looking forward to playing a central role in helping to continue their significant growth and success.�

Gault�s arrival follows the appointment last month of Helen Wood, former Director of Communications at Portsmouth FC, as Head of Media Relations.

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VERO’s New Hire

8 June 2007

VERO Communications has today announced the senior appointment of Helen Wood as Head of Media Relations. Wood, who was formerly Director of Communications at Portsmouth Football Club and Media Officer at UEFA, will play a leading role on a number of accounts and will work alongside Chief Executive Mike Lee on VERO’s media relations offering.

Wood, 33, who also worked as senior press officer for Chelsea FC, will take over from Claire Furlong who is joining UK Athletics (UKA), the National Governing Body for Track and Field, as Head of Communications. Commenting on the appointment, VERO CEO Mike Lee said: “I am delighted that Helen will be joining the VERO team. She brings extensive experience in sport and high level media relations and having worked with her at UEFA, I know she will be a great asset to VERO and our clients.”

“We are disappointed to be losing Claire to one of our clients, but we look forward to working with her in her new role and wish her every success.”

�Wood said today: “I am thrilled to be joining VERO.� They have a fantastic client list, have achieved a huge amount in such a short space of time and I’m looking forward to using my experience in sports media to support their clients and continued growth.”

Wood will join VERO on 2nd July and spend a week handing over with Furlong who takes up her post at UKA on 9th July.

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VERO Supports IAAF World Ambitions

18 May 2007

VERO Communications has been appointed by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), the governing body of world athletics, to help promote their Athletics World Plan and help devise future communications strategies.

VERO CEO, Mike Lee, will work directly with the IAAF President and his communications team to help highlight the achievements of the governing body in the world development of the sport and its plans for the future.

Commenting on the relationship Lee said: “We are delighted to be working with the IAAF and President Diack. Athletics is the number one Olympic sport with real global reach. There is a desire to continue to grow the sport and reach new heights in participation, TV audiences and commercial backing.

IAAF Communications Director, Nick Davies commented: “We identified VERO as the agency to support a more campaigning approach from the IAAF because of their excellent work within the global business of sport. The experience of Mike Lee and his team is unrivalled and I am looking forward to working closely with them in the coming months as we unveil more of our plans for the future. The IAAF President is ambitious for the further development of the sport and to build new momentum as we head to our centenary in 2012.”

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Amateur Swimming Association and British Swimming Appoints VERO and Haymarket Network Marketing and Communications Review

4 May 2007

VERO and Haymarket Network have been appointed by the Amateur Swimming Association (ASA) and British Swimming to develop a strategic communications plan and review the media and marketing departments for the bodies responsible for promoting swimming in England and across the UK.

The joint VERO and Haymarket Network team will be led by Mike Lee, CEO of VERO, and Simon Kanter, Editorial Director at Haymarket Network. VERO and Haymarket Network pitched jointly for the business.

Mike Lee, CEO of VERO said: “This is an exciting project for VERO–Haymarket Network and we created a joint team especially for this brief. The profile of swimming in Britain is set to expand dramatically ahead of London 2012 and it’s against this backdrop that we will review swimming’s communication challenges and how it can most effectively touch its stakeholders and those that have a direct influence on the future of the sport.”

Katie Brazier, Commercial Director of British Swimming/ASA said: “I am delighted to have appointed VERO-Haymarket Network. This partnership gives British Swimming access to VERO’s unrivalled expertise in sports communications and Haymarket Network’s experience in publishing and digital production. That is a very powerful combination that will transform the way we communicate with our stakeholders ahead of the London Games.”

Juliet Slot, Managing Director of Haymarket Network said: “The complementary skill-sets of VERO and Haymarket Network brings combined knowledge and expertise in working in the sporting environment and especially in dealing with multiple audiences, from participants to stakeholders. Applying this understanding and expertise to the challenges and opportunities facing swimming will enable us to deliver a clear strategy and recommend effective solutions for delivery that we know will work”.

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VERO is�PR Week 2007 "Agency to Watch"

20 April 2007

An outstanding first year of trading has led to VERO Communications being identified as the Agency to Watch for 2007 by PR Week. Since being founded by Mike Lee OBE, VERO has gone from strength to strength with a range of national and international clients.

Lee, former Director of Communications and Public Affairs at London 2012, is delighted by the accolade and believes VERO’s success is down to a team effort: “The VERO team has real expertise in the sports industry and can deliver both strategically and operationally and it is a credit to everyone that our work has been highlighted in this way.”

Profiled in PR Week’s Top 150 publication, VERO has received the top accolade for a newly formed agency in the communications world. Current VERO clients include ECB, LTA, Liverpool FC, Premier Rugby, UK Athletics, UK Sport, Virgin Atlantic, Visit Britain, West Ham and Tour of Britain. International clients include Salzburg 2014 Winter Olympic bid, Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games bid, UEFA and IAAF.

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EDELMAN AND VERO FORM STRATEGIC ALLIANCE
NEW OFFER FOR GROWING SPORTS INDUSTRY

22 February 2007

Edelman, the world’s largest independently owned public relations firm, and VERO, a specialist sport, brand and communications consultancy, today announce a strategic alliance that will offer existing and potential clients of both firms a powerful combination of expertise.

As part of the agreement, VERO, whose CEO Mike Lee OBE played a key role in London�s successful bid to host the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, will become an affiliate of Edelman.

The move reflects a shared campaigning approach to communications as well as increasing corporate interest in sport, particularly in the UK ahead of London 2012. The alliance will create a new and powerful offer, specifically in the expanding sports business market. Sport sponsorship investment in the UK alone is estimated at more than �1 billion annually.

Edelman’s global sports and sponsorship marketing practice worked with seven clients during the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Torino and represents a wide range of properties and major event sponsors. Edelman’s UK consumer arm, JCPR, has managed a number of major sports campaigns, including O2’s England Rugby sponsorship and the redevelopment of Wembley Stadium.

VERO – whose clients include domestic and international sports bodies, cities bidding to host major events and businesses who want to use sport to enhance their brand – offers a narrative-based and campaigning approach to internal and external relations.� Lee, the former Director of Communications and Public Affairs for the London 2012 Olympic bid, was also PR Week’s “PR Professional of the Year” in 2005.

Edelman Europe CEO David Brain said: "This is the right time for Edelman and VERO to join forces.� Edelman’s global network and expertise together with VERO’s unique experience and track record will be a winning combination in a number of sectors, most notably in sport.
"The preparations for London 2012 and the imminent opening of the new Wembley Stadium mean that the UK is growing in importance as a hub for the �125 billion global sports industry, and we are perfectly placed to advise clients on the opportunities that this creates.

"Internationally, the industry and its media landscape have become increasingly complex, meaning that clients are demanding higher-level consultancy and strategic planning. Together, Edelman and VERO can offer the market a sophisticated approach and unparalleled industry knowledge."

VERO CEO Mike Lee said: "I’m delighted with this agreement. We have built a strong client base in our first year of operating, and Edelman’s international network, broad-based expertise and rapidly-growing roster of sports and entertainment clients mean that they are the ideal partner for us.

"Together, we will offer something special to the growing range of businesses that want to engage with sport to enhance their brand, with sports bodies that want to achieve new goals and to cities bidding for major international events.� In addition, the campaigning approach of the agencies will provide new opportunities in other sectors.
"With VERO’s specialist expertise and Edelman’s UK and international network and skills in areas such as social media, I believe we have a powerful joint offering."

For more information, please contact:
David Brain, CEO, Edelman Europe: +44 20 7344 1203 / 07764 863 933
Mike Lee OBE, CEO, VERO: +44 20 7554 1122 / 077756 77408

About Edelman
Edelman is the world’s largest independent public relations firm, with 2,400 employees in 46 offices worldwide. The firm was named PR Week’s Large Agency of the Year for 2006. Advertising Age named Edelman as the best PR firm in its 2005 “Best Agencies” issue, while PRWeek awarded the firm its “Editor’s Choice” distinction at the start of 2006. Edelman was also named 2006 Large Agency of the Year and 2005 International Agency of the Year by The Holmes Group.

With devoted staff in New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Hamburg, Amsterdam, London, Paris, Milan, Sao Paulo, Toronto, Montreal, Singapore, Shanghai and Beijing, Edelman’s sports practice works for major sports properties, athletes and leading brands and companies in support of their sports sponsorships.

Visit www.edelman.com for more information.

About VERO
VERO was established in January 2006 by Mike Lee OBE, former Director of Communications and Public Affairs for London’s successful 2012 Olympic bid.� It offers a narrative-based and campaigning approach to all internal and external relations and brand building.� It has worked with a wide variety of organisations including Castrol, England & Wales Cricket Board, Glasgow 2014, G4S, IAAF, Lawn Tennis Association, Leicester Tigers, Liverpool FC,�Metro Denver Sports Commission, Premier Rugby Ltd, Salzburg 2014, Setanta Sports, Siemens, Tour of Britain, UEFA, UK Athletics, UK Sport, Virgin Atlantic, Visit Britain and West Ham United FC.

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