LONDON: WPP's Mediaedge:cia (MEC) has created MEC:Sponsorship as the specialist sponsorship consulting division of MEC.

The global media communications specialist is looking to reinforce its commitment to providing clients with a holistic communications service. Building on the success of its UK operation, MEC claims to have accelerated the growth of the sponsorship business with the newly christened division.
Specialising in strategy, negotiation, management and activation across all forms of sponsorship, MEC:Sponsorship which was formerly known as Total Sponsorship will work in partnership with MEC to deliver insightful and innovative solutions for new and existing clients worldwide.

MEC:Sponsorship managing director Jeremy Clark said, "In the past two years, we have doubled the size of the team in the UK as a result of the changing media environment and increasing demands from clients for sponsorship expertise. We hope that this re-branding will help to stimulate additional interest among clients for an independent sponsorship consultancy service that is wholly focused on maximising the return on their sponsorship investment."

MEC UK chairman Rob Norman added, "Our sponsorship division has clearly demonstrated its ability to add value to our clients. It is a live symbol of our group's commitment to communications planning and implementation. The brand change from Total Sponsorship to MEC:Sponsorship will enable more MEC clients to take advantage of the services that are on offer.'

MEC:Sponsorship recently created Norwich Union's Do the right thing campaign, using its sponsorship of UK Athletics as a platform to assess and address the decline in physical activity among children across the UK. The company also runs Visa's Olympic leverage programme across Europe. In addition it has managed broadcast sponsorships for Sony Ericsson and Schwarzkopf.