In a surprise move early this morning, BNY Mellon and Newton Investment Management, sponsors of The Boat Races, have announced that they are donating their title sponsorship to Cancer Research UK.
This means that the event will now be known as ‘The Cancer Research UK Boat Races’. The new rebrand will apply to both the Men’s race and the Women’s race.
Newton and BNY Mellon claim that the rebranding will increase exposure for the UK’s leading cancer charity. The new brand identity will incorporate the Dark and Light Blues of Oxford’s and Cambridge’s Boat Clubs with the charity’s magenta and blue colour scheme. In a joint press statement sent to Cherwell, BNY Mellon and Newton state the charity will receive financial assistance from both firms. This will take the form of supporting fundraising initiatives in the run up to the Boat Races.
In describing the unprecedented rebrand, David Searle, the Executive Director of The Boat Race Company Ltd. said, “In BNY Mellon and Newton Investment Management we knew we had sponsors who would do something out of the ordinary. After making history with the introduction of The Women’s Boat Race to the Tideway in 2015, this amazing gesture is breaking new ground in sponsorship.”
OUBC and OUWBC have been contacted for comment.
