BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--At a rally today at the firm’s headquarters, Putnam Investments congratulated U.S. Alpine skier Ted Ligety for taking the gold medal in the men’s giant slalom race at the Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia. Ligety, who has been an individual marketing partner with the firm since 2009, made history by becoming the first American male to win the event. He also becomes the first American male to win two Olympic gold medals in Alpine skiing during his career, having won the combined event at the 2006 Olympic Games in Turin.
Putnam applauded the U.S. Ski Team and U.S. Snowboarding, for which it has served as exclusive mutual fund sponsor since 2010, on its outstanding overall performance, which included winning a combined 17 medals, 8 of them gold.
“We are thrilled that Ted Ligety won the gold medal in the men’s giant slalom, skiing his way into history as the first American male to win two Olympic gold medals in Alpine skiing during his career,” said Putnam Investments President and Chief Executive Officer Robert L. Reynolds. “Ted turned in a truly Olympian performance and raised the bar for all Alpine skiers to come. He embodies values that go beyond sport, with a devotion to excellence, commitment to hard work and a focus on superior performance when competing against the world’s best. At Putnam, we share Ted’s values and are tremendously proud to be associated with him.”
In addition to his pair of Olympic gold medals, Ligety also is a four-time World Cup champion in the giant slalom, winning the event twice at the World Championships, in 2011 and 2013. In 2013, he also won the World Championship in the super G and super combined events, making him the first male skier in 45 years to win three gold medals in a single championship.
“We congratulate Ted not only on his Olympic gold medal this year but also for his career-long excellence, which ranks him among the top American skiers in history,” added Reynolds. “We draw inspiration from the dedication that has enabled him to sustain peak performance at such an extraordinary level for so long.”
Putnam’s partnership with Ligety includes appearances in the firm’s top markets, participation in Putnam advertising and social media efforts, and overall support of brand development opportunities globally.
The partnerships with Ligety and the U.S. Ski Team and U.S. Snowboarding are part of Putnam’s “Performance in Motion” sports marketing strategy that aligns the firm’s brand with sports that appeal to its advisor, institutional and investor audiences, and that supports those partnerships through connections with athletes who best personify Putnam’s emphasis on results. Putnam’s other marketing partners include PGA golfer Keegan Bradley and the New England Patriots (through the Kraft Sports Group).
About Putnam Investments
Founded in 1937, Putnam Investments is a leading global money management firm with over 70 years of investment experience. At the end of December 2013, Putnam Investments had $150 billion in assets under management. Putnam has offices in Boston, London, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Tokyo, Singapore and Sydney. For more information, visit putnam.com.
