The company behind the Great North Run has secured a five-year sponsorship deal with Manchester-based investment platform AJ Bell.
AJ Bell has become the 'title partner' of the Great Run Series, which includes the company's events in Glasgow, Newcastle, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol and Portsmouth. The move follows changes at the Gateshead-based company last year including the appointment of former BP managing director Peter Mather as chairman, replacing Sir Brendan Foster who became president of the business.
At the same time, chief executive Paul Foster said the company had ambitious expansion plans in place for the next five years including the introduction of an ultra-marathon event in the Lake District National Park and investment into the company's production outfit, Film Nova. As the UK's largest running event and the world's largest half marathon, the Great North Run alone will afford AJ Bell significant exposure as it is televised live on the BBC and in 169 territories around the world.
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Paul Foster said: "Supporting mass participation sport is more important than ever and we’re delighted AJ Bell will be alongside us as we deliver our events that benefit over 200,000 participants and countless charities every year. AJ Bell already helps hundreds of thousands of people look after their investments and we‘re excited to be working with them over the next five years to inspire, motivate and empower people to be their greatest through the Great Run Series."
Michael Summersgill, chief executive of AJ Bell said: "The inspirational mass participation events that make up the Great Run Series can have a really positive effect on people’s physical health and mental wellbeing. We aim to make people feel good when they invest and we believe running can help do the same in their broader lives.
"Being part of a Great Run Series event gives everyone the chance to work towards a personal goal as well as the opportunity to support good causes along the way. We are really proud to be helping such an iconic series of events develop and grow over the next five years.”
AJ Bell has nominated mental health charity Mind as the official charity partner for the series in the first year of its sponsorship. Mind offers advice and support services to those facing mental health issues and also campaigns to protect the rights of those affected.
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