The Volvo Ocean Race has announced the appointment of a new Communications Director, Dubliner Marcus Hutchinson, to replace Reg Gratton from the beginning of September.
Hutchinson, who cut his teeth working with Rob Humphreys during the 1989-90 Whitbread having left Ireland for Southampton with a degree in naval architecture, has a wealth of experience in the yacht racing event management business and in the media and communications sector. Events include the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, several single-handed transAtlantic races, the last
four America’s Cups and most recently the MedCup Circuit.
He joins the Volvo Ocean Race team at short notice but is fully prepared to face the challenges ahead and is looking forward to leading the Communications Department of the most prestigious round-the-world race.
Now based in Cork, Hutchinson and his New Zealand-born wife Megan split their time between Kinsale and Valencia in Spain – the centre of current America’s Cup activity.
“This role was offered to me at very short notice and it is with great anticipation that I enter into the world of this legendary event, one that I have admired and watched from the outside as a sailing fan since the very first Whitbread Race back in 1973,” said Hutchinson.
“I believe there are huge opportunities for the profile of sailing to grow in the future. The Volvo Ocean Race is one of the flagship events that can transmit sailing’s positive messages and values to a global audience. This is due in no small part to the legitimate and exciting sports story, coupled with the use of some of the most amazing cutting edge communications technology. I’m really excited to be able to play a small part in that process.”
Reg Gratton is leaving the Volvo Ocean Race team for personal reasons, but wishes the race and its competitors the best of luck in the future months.
Knut Frostad, CEO of the Volvo Ocean Race believes the Communications team is in good hands with Hutchinson at the helm. “I have known Marcus a long time and I think he will be a great addition to our team and will give us some great insight from the America’s Cup world. I am looking forward to working with him.
“Reg is a highly experienced and respected sport media manager and it is with great sadness he is leaving us. We wish him well in his future endeavours. He will be missed.”
The Volvo Ocean Race 2008-09 will be the 10th running of this ocean marathon. Starting from Alicante in Spain, on 4 October 2008, it will, for the first time, take in Cochin, India, Singapore and Qingdao, China before finishing in St Petersburg, Russia for the first time in the history of the
race. Spanning some 37,000 nautical miles, visiting 11 ports over nine months, the Volvo Ocean Race is the world’s premier ocean yacht race for professional racing crews.
