Shorts: West Ham, Team Wales, Ben Whittaker
West Ham United has agreed a new partnership with global vodka brand Nemiroff.
The Ukraine-based vodka brand will benefit from branding opportunities across digital and physical spaces, with additional ‘unique activations and events.’
The deal marks the company’s second Premier League deal after recently signing a deal with Aston Villa.
Nathan Thompson, Chief Commercial Officer of West Ham United, said, “We are thrilled to welcome Nemiroff as our newest partner. Their rich heritage and passion for innovation align perfectly with the values of our club and our fans. We look forward to working together to create memorable experiences that celebrate the spirit of football and bring Nemiroff closer to our supporters around the world.”
Yuriy Sorochynskiy, CEO of Nemiroff, added, “Joining forces with West Ham United is an exciting leap for Nemiroff as we continue to bring the bold spirit of Ukrainian craftsmanship to the world stage.
“West Ham fans are known for their loyalty and passion, traits we deeply admire and share. Through this partnership, we aim to create unforgettable moments that blend the energy of London Stadium with the essence of Nemiroff — celebrating quality, character, and the shared indomitable spirit that drives both our brands.”
Team Wales has announced Adidas as its official leisurewear kit partner ahead of the next Games in Glasgow 2026.
Specialist Sports, the distributor of adidas Teamwear across the UK & Ireland, has been appointed by Team Wales to design and supply adidas leisurewear to athletes and team members for the Games.
The collection will be designed by Specialist Sports in collaboration with Team Wales and the Team Wales Athletes Commission.
Rob Hutchison, Teamwear Director, Specialist Sports, said, “We’re thrilled to design and supply adidas leisurewear for the upcoming 2026 Games. adidas is known for their dedication to performance, style, and innovation and share our commitment to high-quality Teamwear.
“We understand how essential it is to provide athletes and team members with premium kit and are excited to unveil the new designs soon.”
Rebecca Edwards-Symmons, Chief Executive of Team Wales, added, “Bringing adidas on board to design Team Wales leisurewear is exciting, not just for the athletes and the wider team, but for us as a country having such an iconic worldwide brand as part of our team is great.
“Having well designed and high-quality kit is very important to the athletes, so the next few months as we plan, design, and deliver with adidas, it’s really exciting and the team can’t wait to get started.”
Ignite Sports Management’s (ISM) new commercial rights division has signed global boxing stars including Ben Whittaker and Frazer Clarke in an exclusivity partnership between ISM & H Company Limited.
ISM’s new commercial division boasts Whittaker, the boxer with a vast social media following and widely predicted to become a global superstar.
Hugo Jafari, CEO & founder at Ignite Sports Management, said, “Having worked with Will for some time, it’s clear that he is a visionary in his field. He has an impressive stable of boxers, and we are excited to bring our expertise in commercial strategy and brand partnerships to the business. Our role will be to advise him and his athletes on commercial opportunities and secure the right brand partnerships for them. We’re excited to get to work.”
Will Harvey CEO & founder of H Company, added, “I am delighted to team up with the Ignite Sports family. Myself and Hugo have worked on a number of exciting projects in different sporting spaces already and so it felt like the natural next step to formalise a working partnership with his wider team.
“H Company specialises in advising and guiding the careers of athletes in a number of different areas and sports and I am delighted to be able to open up the network of industry leading specialists I have developed to them to help progress their careers. Hugo’s work in the commercial space is unrivalled and the results he has achieved for his clients speaks for itself. So, the opportunity for him to help produce opportunities for talent I am advising is a no brainer and I can’t wait to see the results he will produce for them!”
Arsenal have become the world’s first football club to have their net-zero target approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).
The North London outift committed to reach net-zero by 2040 when it signed up to the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework four years ago.
The latest approval means that the Gunners’ action plan for net-zero aligns with ‘the most ambitious pathway to limit global temperature rises.’
Arsenal Managing Director, Richard Garlick, said, “We are in a privileged position where the actions we take inspire change on a global scale, and our goal is to drive sustainability together with our people, our supporters, and all our communities around the world.
“Reducing our impact sits right at the heart of our club strategy, and today is about ensuring we are accountable as we continue our journey to net-zero.”
UK-based television sports production and media company Sunset+Vine has revealed it will be the new official production partner for the BBC’s snooker coverage.
The Scotland arm of the company will produce the UK Championships, the Masters, and the World Championships for the broadcaster, taking over from IMG, which had been the production partner since 1997.
Sunset+Vine will take charge of delivering coverage for the first time with the Triple Crown this month.
The company has stated that sustainability will be a key focus for production.
London-based creative agency 50 Sport has announced a new relationship with Virtual Gaming Worlds, VGW.
VGW has a multi-year deal with Formula 1 team Scuderia Ferrari as their global premium partner.
As part of this partnership, 50 Sport will be working closely with VGW to ‘enhance their sponsorship strategy by creating a series of innovative short-form content pieces that leverage the connection between Global Poker, VGW’s flagship social poker brand, and Formula 1.’
Antony Butler, Senior Manager, Partnerships, VGW, said, “We are excited to collaborate with 50 Sport on this project. Their expertise in the sports industry is well recognised, and we look forward to seeing how their creative input will enhance our initiatives. This partnership will bring a new energy and visibility to our efforts, and we are confident 50 Sport will elevate the VGW brand within the sports sector.”
Nick Jackman, Co-Founder at 50 Sport, added, “50 Sport is an agency built to partner with the biggest brands in sport and sponsorship, and VGW fits that perfectly. Partnering with VGW on this project is an exciting opportunity for us. Their new relationship as global premium partner to Scuderia Ferrari is exceptional, and we are eager to apply our motorsport expertise to make this collaboration a standout success. The potential to create award winning, successful work is immense. We look forward to delivering exceptional and impactful work together.”
Mike McTighe has been appointed Chair of the new Men’s Professional Rugby Board, taking up his role with immediate effect.
McTighe is joined on the board by two Independent Non-Executive Directors (INED), Rachel Baillache and Ged Roddy MBE.
McTighe is the Chairman of Openreach Limited, Together Financial Services Limited and IG Group plc. He was also appointed to Chair the Telegraph Media Group Limited in March 2024.
Incoming INED, Rachel Baillache is a qualified accountant and was a member of KPMG’s global executive for nine years with a remit covering people, performance and culture as well as external and internal communications and ESG.
Ged Roddy was a member of the executive board of the FA Premier League, and on the UK Sport Board which during his tenure pioneered mission 2012 ahead of the London Olympics. He has also worked at a senior level at three leading Universities – Bath, Southampton and Manchester.
Mike McTighe, said,“It’s my privilege to be taking on this role at such an important time for English Rugby. The enthusiasm from all quarters to reshape the men’s game is palpable. I look forward to getting to know better all the stakeholders in the coming days and weeks.”
Derby County has partnered with AI-powered digital, media and production asset management agency ScorePlay to ‘help to modernise its content management process for club staff, players and commercial partners.’
With the use of ScorePlay’s extensive permissions system, Derby County now ‘gives specific users across the club, including marketing, media, partnerships and players, access to specific content within seconds.’
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