New Spirit Sees Global Role For Carnegie Sports Firm
Sports management and marketing specialist Carnegie Sports International NZ Ltd has made management changes signalling
an increased local involvement in the Carnegie Group's global growth.
Carnegie is a leading local operator of sports stadium signage and replay screens, hospitality services, sports
sponsorship, and player placement.
It has been appointed to handle marketing, sponsorship and hospitality services for Northern Spirit FC, the
Sydney-based Australian National League soccer team recently acquired by Glasgow Rangers which is owned by Carnegie's
parent company, Scottish-based Murray International Holdings.
Murray Wright becomes managing director of Carnegie NZ succeeding former All Black Grant Fox who has withdrawn from day
to day management to concentrate on his rugby coaching career. He becomes New Zealand chairman.
Former Silver Fern and netball commentator Julie Coney, who has managed the hospitality division for 14 years, has also
been appointed a director.
The Rangers-Northern Spirit connection opens the door for Carnegie's closer involvement in Australian sports
management, says Murray Wright. "We'll be opening a Sydney office and appointing staff who will be responsible to
Carnegie in Auckland.
"We have a number of links with major corporates in Australia and this now gives us an opportunity to expand these
relationships, particularly as we're seeing more and more competitions involving trans-Tasman sporting organisations."
Mr Wright said the closer UK connection with the Carnegie Group positions Carnegie NZ as an international sports
marketing organisation.
In addition to Grant Fox as chairman, the new local board includes David D. Murray, chairman of the Carnegie Group,
Trevor Perry, former managing director of Prudential Australasia, and Auckland investment banker Graham Jackson.
David E Murray, chairman of Murray International Holdings Ltd and the Glasgow Rangers becomes Chairman of Northern
Spirit and is joined on the board by Graham Jackson who represented Rangers in the $A2 million acquisition of the club.
The Carnegie NZ team also includes former All Black Joe Stanley, media and signage specialist Murray Brown and Simon
Rackham.
Carnegie has signage rights at all major televised rugby and cricket in New Zealand; Australia and New Zealand rights
for Three-D on-pitch signage, and sales and marketing rights for televised EPSIS 'virtual advertising' technology.
The company has sponsorship and hospitality contracts with rugby, cricket and the major tennis tournaments. It managed
the sponsorship and marketing activities for the World Netball Championships held in Christchurch last year.
In conjunction with Vital Television, Carnegie NZ is responsible for the successful weekly Sky TV programme Heartland
Rugby, which feature second and third divisions of the Air New Zealand NPC .
The Clipsal Vision replay screen, which was featured at the America's Cup Village and is seen at rugby tests and
cricket one-dayers, is also marketed and managed by Carnegie NZ.
Leveraging its connections with the major sports bodies, Carnegie NZ has become a specialist in servicing sponsorships
for major corporates to ensure that benefits are maximised for all parties.
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For further information contact:
Murray Wright, Managing Director: 09 358 5525 or 021 881 864
Evans Public Relations Ltd 14a Parnell Road, Auckland New Zealand. Box 37716, Parnell. Ph 64 9 377 6201; Fax 64 9 377
6202 Mobile: 021 936 059 Email: john@evanspr.co.nz