Jennifer Gleeson is leaving her role as sponsorship manager with the GAA to take up a role developing the sponsorship portfolio of supermarket giant Lidl in Ireland.
Gleeson has been with the GAA for three and a half years and has been a key player on the team through the introduction of Etihad Airways, AIB and Liberty Insurance.
“I’ll enjoy coming to matches now and not having to look more at the sight lines for partners branding than the action on the field,” Gleeson told Sport for Business at Croke Park yesterday.
Lidl’s main sponsorship here in Ireland at present is with Barrettstown but it may be an indicator of future trends that it recently signed a three year deal with the English FA to become the official supermarket of that Association.
This followed rival Aldi’s £10 million deal with the British Olympic Association in a similar role.
Neither Lidl nor Aldi have been especially active at national level in sport until now though they do support grassroots at a local level.
Supervalu and Centra are long term partners of the GAA while Tesco is a supporter of Ladies Gaelic Football and Marks and Spencer has a relationship with Munster Rugby.
Spar is an official partner of the FAI and a long term partner of athletics at national and European level.
We wish Gleeson the best of luck in her new role.
