Thanks to Suzanne and Alan for sharing this latest sailing news. Ed
OC Sport, the global sports marketing and events company based in Cowes, has had a majority shareholding on it acquired by a French media company.
OC Sport recently issued the following statement:
Telegramme Group, a major French media, sports and entertainment group, as part of their diversification and development strategy have acquired a majority shareholding in OC Sport, the global sports marketing company specialising in professional sailing and outdoor events including the Extreme 40 Series.
Background of OC Sport
OC Sport was originally created by Isle of Wight resident Mark Turner in 1993, who then joined forces with Dame Ellen MacArthur in 1997, to form the backbone of the operation that launched and then developed Ellen’s sailing career.
In the last ten years, OC Sport has become a global sports marketing and events company.
In 2010, after finishing her sailing career and focusing on her own foundation in the area of sustainability, Mark Turner bought out Ellen and brought in Remi Duchemin as both a major shareholder and CEO.
Significant growth since 2010
The two have led the company through a period of significant growth, backed by various investors that have helped the company continue to launch new projects.
Now Telegramme Group has acquired a majority of the share capital of the group, with Duchemin and Turner remaining as shareholders for the next chapter of OC Sport’s journey.
Mark Turner said,
“In the past few years we’ve helped take the sport of sailing to new audiences all around the world, creating the Barcelona World Race, the award-winning and game-changing Extreme Sailing Series, helped establish the ground-breaking Oman Sail project in a country where the sport didn’t exist, developed an Academy in the UK which is now starting to produce future solo sailing stars, launched four years ago the ultimate amateur cycling races in the world, developed significantly some of the largest running events in Europe, and most recently taken on the huge challenge of a Chinese backed, and partly Chinese crewed, Volvo Ocean Race campaign.
“When I look back I’m not quite sure how we made all that happen – for sure, this is largely due to the amazing set of people that work at OC Sport – and the confidence shown in us by various investors along the way. Keeping our company dynamic and being ready to take on what others consider impossible, will be key for us going forward, but now with a strong single shareholder to back us up.”
CEO, Rémi Duchemin, said,
“Mark and I would really like to thank the outgoing shareholders, both currently and those of the past few years, who have stuck by us as we’ve continued to run at a fast pace, often taking significant risks, to be able to develop the sports and properties we are involved in.
“This next chapter will give us a new foundation for continuing to take on new projects and developing new game-changing ideas – that is what gets OC Sport people excited, and it’s what we do best. Our mission to use sport to inspire the public, sponsors and cities alike to take on new challenges will remain unchanged. The focus of OC Sport will continue on international development utilising its sailing and outdoor sports know-how.”
Although now with offices in Switzerland, France and Singapore OC Sport still has an office on the Isle of Wight and can be found at OC Sport UK, Venture Quays, Castle Street, East Cowes.
