SEOUL, South Korea (Aug. 7, 2015) — As it continues to expand its global sports marketing plan, Nexen Tire Corp. has become an official partner of the Manchester City Football Club (FC), one of the English Premier League's top teams.
Nexen held a signing ceremony on Aug. 6 at the City Football Academy in Manchester, England, for its partnership agreement, with the soccer team naming Nexen the club's official tire. On hand for the event were Ferran Soriano, the Manchester City club's CEO, Ho-Chan Kang, president of South Korea-based Nexen, Omar Berrada, City Football marketing commercial director, as well as other executives from both the tire maker and team, along with Manchester City players.
The tire maker said the partnership underpins its “rapid expansion into the global market by establishing a strong foothold in the European and global market through active communications with customers.”
Football fans from Europe and around the world will see Nexen Tire's logo on digital boards whenever Manchester City plays at the Etihad Stadium. The company said it also plans to launch various marketing activities by using players' portrait rights and sponsorship management.
“We are very pleased to serve as the official tire of Manchester City FC, one of the best soccer clubs in Europe,” Mr. Kang said in a Nexen press release. “Manchester City FC is the perfect partner for Nexen Tire, considering its position in the league as one of the top-class football clubs with their decisive investment in and recruitment of top stars.”
He added that the agreement will provide the company with “a great opportunity to let customers around the world know about Nexen Tire through the partnership with Manchester City FC, which has numerous fans across all continents. We will strengthen our brand power through continuous sports marketing.”
Mr. Soriano said the team is “happy to welcome Nexen Tire as our newest global partner and to welcome President Kang to our home in Manchester. We have millions of followers in South Korea, and we will be able to provide them with more engaging experiences.
“Nexen is not only a well-established South Korean brand, but has a strong ambition to grow globally like we do. This partnership builds a strategic relationship that will enable us both to meet our objectives.”
Nexen provides OE tires to global car makers, including Volkswagen, Fiat, Renault-Daimler and others. Starting late this year, the company plans to begin construction on a new tire plant in the Czech Republic that Nexen said will “feature the most advanced automation systems along with environmentally friendly technologies.”
The factory is slated to begin commercial operation in 2018 and, according to the tire maker, is expected to serve as an important manufacturing hub for the company — “as it seeks to join the world's top tire makers” — due to the facility's strategic location near the production plants of some global car makers.
Nexen, established in 1942, is based in Yangsan, South Gyeongsang Province, and in Seoul, South Korea.