Dunstone Named Chairman Of Ainslie Team
Sir Charles Dunstone, founder of Carphone Warehouse, has been named Chairman of Sir Ben Ainslie’s British America’s Cup team which was launched this week.
Dunstone was announced as the founding shareholder of the team alongside Sir Keith Mills, the former deputy chairman of London 2012.
It was also announced that the team had signed official partner agreements with KPMG, Henri Lloyd, Siemens NX and Scorpion Ribs. There are also partnership deals with Princecroft Willis, Esteco, The Goring and SOS Rehydrate. Dunstone and Ainslie confirmed that they are pursuing an agreement for a major commercial title sponsor.
Ainslie said of the team: ‘This is the last great historic sporting prize never won by Great Britain. It has always been my ambition to mount a home challenge. The time is right and I am hugely encouraged by the support we are getting, not least from the Duchess of Cambridge. I learned a great deal aboard Oracle in San Francisco and I would not be challenging if I did not believe we have a real chance of winning this time.’
Dunstone added: ‘This campaign is about righting a wrong. We have never won it. We have an amazing maritime history. The Cup has to come home, we have to do that.’
Ainslie is credited with helping overturn Team Oracle’s 8-1 deficit to Team New Zealand during last year’s America’s Cup in an historic victory.
