Filed under: News
Procter & Gamble's Gillette brand is ending its endorsement deal with golfer Tiger Woods as of Dec. 31.
The men's grooming company will not renew its sponsorship deal with Woods as part of a plan to phase out its Gillette Champions marketing campaign in the first quarter of 2011, said Gillette spokesman
Under the strategy, Gillette is cutting ties with Woods, soccer players Thierry Henry, Kaka, Rafa Marquez and Lionel Messi and other athletic endorsers around the world, said Norton. However, it's keeping other athletes who served as Gillette champions in global or local marketing efforts. They include: shortstop Derek Jeter of the New York Yankees; tennis star Roger Federer and Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin.
Woods, Federer and Henry launched the Champions campaign in 2007 and it became one of the most successful global marketing efforts in Gillette's history. Eventually, Gillette used 38 different athletic endorsers from seven different sports to reach consumers in 180 countries.
In an e-mail to USA TODAY, Woods' agent, Mark Steinberg of IMG Worldwide, said: "The contract between Tiger and Gillette expires at the end of this year. Gillette is ending their 'Champions' campaign. That is the reason for not continuing."
Source: USA Today
Kevin Eason is a freelance editorial cartoonist and Illustrator from New Jersey. His brand of satire covers news events in politics, entertainment, sports and much more. Follow him on Facebook.