Currie steps down from ESA sponsorship body

Nigel Currie is stepping down as head of the European Sponsorship Association (ESA) after seven years as chairman. He is leaving to concentrate on his own sports sponsorship agency, brandRapport.

Currie took over as chairman of what was then The European Sponsorship Consultants Association (ESCA) in 2001. The ESA was formed in 2003 when ESCA was merged with the Institute of Sports Sponsorship to create a unified trade body for the sponsorship industry.

The ESA now has over 200 members and its policy team lobbies government on issues that affect the sponsorship industry, such as alcohol partnerships.

ESA vice-chairman Helen Day says: “ESA and the sponsorship industry is indebted to the tremendous effort and commitment Currie has made over the past seven years. ESA is unrecognisable now to the body it was when Nigel took over as chairman.”

Commenting on his departure Currie says: “While it was been extremely rewarding it has taken up a lot of time and effort and I think the time is right for someone else to head up ESA and take it to the next level. The next challenge is to involve more companies from across Europe and expand into new territories.”

A new chairman will be elected at the next ESA annual general meeting on September 11.