Ashes Honour for Specsavers Marketing Manager

Sunday 22 September 2019

A Specsavers marketing manager had the ultimate honour of being part of the Ashes presentation ceremony, in front of thousands of cricket fans and millions watching on TV.

James Read, who leads Sports Sponsorship at the Specsavers La Villiaze support office, presented the Player of the Series awards to England’s Ben Stokes and Australia’s Steve Smith at the finale of the Specsavers Ashes Series. Specsavers are the official Test Partner for the England cricket team, who claimed a 2-2 Series draw, with victory in the final Test at the Oval on Sunday.

Mr Read who has been working for the Specsavers Marketing Department for eight years, described it as a moment he will never forget.

"It was a huge privilege to be on stage, in front of thousands of fans, to present the player awards. It has been an enthralling series, with many twists and turns and great action from both sides," he said.

"It was great to present the award to Ben Stokes, after what has been an incredible summer for him and his England team mates."

As part of the partnership, Mr Read and his team have been busy with a wide-range of activity in and around the five Test matches between England and Australia. This includes on-field and off-field sponsorship, social media activity and press relations. Most notably Specsavers offered spin bowler Jack Leach ‘free glasses for life’ following his batting heroics at Headingley, helping England claim an unlikely victory with his one run (not out).

While Mr Read acknowledged it had been an exhausting summer, he said it was incredibly rewarding and successful for the business.

"One of the most rewarding parts of this summer was supporting the Ruth Strauss Foundation by turning the Lord’s Test red, and where ECB, its partners and the public helped to raise over half a million pounds for the worthy cause."

Pictured top: Mr Read presenting the awards.