MAM
Waitrose is England’s cricket team sponsor
MUMBAI: UK supermarket Waitrose has signed a three-year deal with the England and Wales Cricket Board to become the new team sponsor of England Cricket from next year.
The Waitrose logo will feature on all England teams playing and training wear from the Investec Test Series against Sri Lanka in May 2014, and their tenure includes home series against India (2014) and Australia (2015), the ICC World Cup in Australia and New Zealand (2015), the ICC World Twenty20 and ICC Women‘s World T20 in India (2016), and the tour of South Africa (2016).
Waitrose has 291 branches throughout England, Wales and Scotland. It also has an online grocery service and exports to 45 countries around the world.
ECB CEO David Collier said, “We are delighted to welcome Waitrose as the new sole sponsor of our England teams. The organisation begins their relationship with the sport with one of our marquee partnerships, and as a brand with a rich history synonymous with quality, they are a perfect fit for the ECB and our values.
“They join at an incredibly exciting time for the sport in England and Wales – with a packed international schedule including Test series against the other three teams who occupy the top four spots in the ICC Test Rankings.
“The partnership will allow us to engage further with a mass, family audience which will inevitably help us achieve our aim of inspiring the nation to play, attend and follow more cricket.”
ECB commercial director John Perera said, “This partnership is especially pleasing for us as we welcome another high profile, high-street brand into our ever-expanding commercial partner family.
“I would like to take this opportunity to express our gratitude to Brit who has been an excellent and valued partner of the ECB since 2010, and will remain as Team Sponsor until April 2014.”
Waitrose MD Mark Price said, “We currently export our products to a quarter of the world‘s countries and associating Waitrose with this great national and international sport will enable us to build our brand globally.”
Waitrose marketing director Rupert Thomas said, “Millions of people play and watch cricket in the UK and at the heart of the game is the cricket tea which of course Waitrose is perfectly placed to provide. We look forward to developing this exciting relationship and bringing benefits to our customers, the Partners who work at Waitrose and the wider community.”
As part of the agreement, Waitrose will benefit from a range of rights and assets which will include advertising in international cricket grounds, team image rights, ticketing, hospitality and access to England players for commercial and marketing purposes. The agreement also includes a community and recreational project for the sport, details of which will be revealed at a later date.
MAM
India 2030 Conclave 2026 honours 56 leaders across business, cinema
NexBrands event in Mumbai spotlights icons shaping India’s next decade
MUMBAI: The ninth edition of the India 2030 Leadership Conclave 2026 wrapped up in Mumbai, bringing together a cross-section of business leaders, entertainers and cultural voices, while recognising 56 standout achievers shaping India’s future.
Organised by NexBrands Inc, the conclave was held at ITC Maratha and focused on leadership, innovation and long-term impact as India looks ahead to the next decade.
Among the headline winners were Gaur Gopal Das, named transformational thought leader of the year, Radhika Madan as breakthrough performer, and Malaika Arora, recognised as a dynamic business and entertainment icon. Film veterans Manoj Bajpayee and Nawazuddin Siddiqui were honoured for their cinematic excellence, while Shehnaaz Gill and Boman Irani were also among the prominent awardees.
From the corporate world, Ashishkumar Chauhan was recognised as the most powerful CEO in financial services, while healthcare and innovation leaders such as Mukesh Batra and Dr Murtaza Khorakiwala were also honoured.
The event was attended by chief guest Pratap Sarnaik, underlining its growing stature as a platform that bridges governance, business and culture.
A key highlight was a fireside chat featuring Mukesh Batra and Akshay Batra, who discussed how trust and legacy are becoming central to brand building in an increasingly competitive landscape.
Another moment that stood out came from Sonu Sood, who used the platform to announce his “Ab Rukna Nahi” initiative aimed at enabling free knee replacement surgeries, reinforcing the event’s blend of business dialogue and social impact.
“The India 2030 Leadership Conclave serves as a powerful platform that brings together visionary leaders and change-makers shaping the future of India,” said Kamdhenu Ltd whole time director Sunil Agarwal.
Echoing the sentiment, NexBrands Inc founder Chandrika Maheshwari said the conclave was designed to spotlight voices shaping industries and the nation’s future, while CEO Saurav Dasgupta added that conversations around trust and innovation are becoming increasingly relevant.
With participation from sectors ranging from entertainment and healthcare to manufacturing and digital innovation, the conclave also handed out a wide array of corporate honours to brands such as Tata CliQ Luxury, Reliance Retail and ICICI Prudential AMC.
Backed by partners including Kamdhenu Nxt and supported by media platforms like Times Now and IndiaTimes, the event saw strong amplification across broadcast and digital channels.
As the curtains fall on its ninth edition, the conclave continues to cement its place as a meeting ground for ideas, influence and ambition, capturing the pulse of a rapidly evolving India.
