Hinduja-owned Gulf Oil inks major deal with Man United

London, Mar 15: Hinduja-owned Gulf Oil International on Monday inked its largest-ever single long-term partnership deal with Manchester United to become the world's leading football club's global sponsor and official lubricant-cum-fuel retail partner.

The deal that will last till the end of 2019 football season was signed by Frank Rutten, vice-president Gulf Oil International and Jamie Reigle, commercial director Manchester United at Aon Training Complex, Manchester United's official training ground in presence of the first team players and Manchester United Legends.

"Gulf Oil's association with the world of sports has been phenomenal right from motorsports to cricket, where we have partnered with the best of the best. It was therefore logical for us to team up with Manchester United in order to reiterate our brand's core values of endurance, quality and passion," GOI managing director Ravi Chawla said.

"We look forward to leverage this interesting mix of football and cricket and leverage this partnership to increase consumer engagement with the brand, create new and exciting communication platforms that will emphasis the customer value propositions," Chawla said.

The deal, the value of which was not disclosed, will give Gulf Oil International, owned by leading NRI entrepreneurs Hindujas, access to Manchester United's assets including the club crest and player images.

The company's distinctive orange disc will feature on the club's digital perimeter boards during Premier League, FA Cup and League Cup matches at Old Trafford.

The partnership is in addition to the company's existing global tie-ups with Milwaukee BMW, World Superbikes, the World Endurance Championship with the Gulf Racing Team and Porsche.

The company expects the tie-up will augment its long-term association with cricket.

"The partnership marks a further step in Gulf's intent to strengthen its brand presence globally as well as enable it to engage with Manchester United's worldwide fan base, including 325 million followers in Asia, which Gulf sees as a major focus area with a strong presence in India and rapidly developing businesses in China, the Middle East and Indonesia," said a statement by the Hindujas.