Write a commentLocal Company First Derivatives, has announced its sponsorship of the GAA Asian Gaelic Games Tournament in October 2012.
First Derivatives are leading providers of software and consulting services to the global capital markets.
Held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the games are in their seventeenth year having started in 1995 with six men’s teams and now approaching 900 participants. The appeal of the tournament has also broadened with a 60/40 split between men and women and incorporating men and women’s Gaelic football, Hurling and Camogie.
First Derivatives decision to sponsor the games is a clear indication of their ambition to increase visibility in Asian markets and to reach out to the Irish diaspora. At present the firm has consultants working in Singapore, Hong Kong and Tokyo implementing their high performance suite of trading products.
However Chief Operating Officer Adrian Toner said the firm saw it as a strong networking and below-the-line marketing opportunity.
“With our large footprint in London, and growth in the US, Asia represents major potential for First Derivatives. Financial markets there are still experiencing strong growth, and demand for products and services like ours is huge.
“Not only is the Irish diaspora in Asia growing but they are becoming more structured and organised and the rapid growth of gaelic games is a good example of this. We want to position ourselves at the heart of those networks.
“This event is an ideal investment opportunity for First Derivatives as it recognises the cross-over between sport and business coupling the tournament with the new Asia-Pacific Ireland Business Forum. This is an excellent platform from which to build upon our links into key markets and we know that people with an Irish connection can be found in senior positions in financial markets across Asia. In business terms that common background can be a significant advantage.
Adrian Toner said the firm were proud of the sponsorship as a contribution to the global GAA family, “Apart from the clear business benefits we also want to support activity that offers so much to our staff. With a young Irish work-force spread across the globe, gaelic games can often be an excellent social network for our staff, helping them establish friendships and settle into new places quickly.
