New FPR Commercial Manager appointed

August 8, 2003 - Ford Performance Racing (FPR) are delighted to announce the appointment of Nick Murray to the role of FPR Commercial Manager.

Murray, 32, joins the team with impeccable sports marketing credentials. The new FPR Commercial Manager's career covers sports as wide and varied as Tennis, Soccer, Surfing, Cycling, Sailing and Triathlon. Murray's experience includes major event corporate sponsorship, the marketing of international television rights and an integral role for the delivery of results systems for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

Murray's sports marketing career started with the Australian Open (Tennis Australia) in 1996, when he joined this globally renowned Grand Slam event as a corporate sales executive. By 1998 he had progressed to the role of sponsorship manager.

Later that year Murray joined IBM working with the world leading computer company's Sydney 2000 Olympics Project. Murray was part of IBM's Customer Relationship Team and had the unenviable task of ensuring that the sports of Track and Road Cycling, Football (Soccer), Sailing, Tennis, Triathlon and Beach Volleyball gained the most accurate, efficient and timely results services possible throughout the Sydney games. This role required direct liaison with the relevant global sporting federations while also being accountable to SOCOG and the International Olympic Committee for the delivery of these high tech services.

In 2001 Murray joined TWI, the world's largest independent producer of sports television. This company is the television and media arm of global sports management group, IMG. Representing Wimbledon, British Open (Golf), Australian Open (Tennis), along with many other events and sporting organisations, Murray was the company's national sales and marketing manager, responsible for television program sales in Australia, NZ and the Pacific, along with a specific responsibility for the international distribution rights for the ASP - Association of Surfing Professionals.

In 2003 Murray returned to his hometown of Melbourne to head the commercial operations of FPR. This role represents another exciting step for the 32 year old sports marketing professional, whose career now accelerates the top level of Australian motorsport with Prodrive, one of the world's leading motorsport and automotive engineering companies and the parent company of FPR.

"After nearly 3 years with IMG I am very excited to be returning to Melbourne and joining Ford Performance Racing," Nick Murray said.

"The growth of V8 Supercars in recent years and the opportunity to join such a dynamic and progressive team was appealing from the start. The combination of Prodrive, Ford and three great drivers in Craig, Glenn and David provides FPR with a great opportunity for success and I look forward to being part of the team in the coming years," he added.

There is no doubt that Murray's extensive sports marketing, management, corporate sponsorship and media sales experience will become invaluable assets to FPR as the team prepares for major commercial and competitive growth in the future.

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