HSBC appoints Fast Track for British Lions task

LONDON - HSBC has appointed sports marketing agency Fast Track to handle the bank's recently won sponsorship of the 2009 British & Irish Lions tour of South Africa.

Fast Track, understood to be instrumental in securing the principal sponsorship rights for HSBC for the British & Irish Lions team, has been chosen to lead the development of all aspects of the deal, including media services, external communications and grassroots awareness.

Last month, HSBC was named as the shirt sponsor for the British & Irish Lions 2009 tour of South Africa, where the team will face the newly crowned Rugby World Cup champions three times.

The deal meant HSBC succeeded Zurich Insurance as the main sponsors for the British & Irish Lions team.

Giles Morgan, head of sponsorship at HSBC, said: "Fast Track's expertise within the rugby market is second to none, as proven by their work on behalf of major domestic and international sponsors of rugby."