Ernst & Young has signed a Tier 2 deal with Glasgow 2014 to become the Official Professional Advisor for the XX Commonwealth Games, strengthening the EY brand in Scotland, the UK, across the Commonwealth and beyond.

Multiple Commonwealth Games medallist on the track, Lee McConnell was in attendance at the official opening of Ernst & Young’s state of the art new offices in Glasgow tonight where the sponsorship deal was announced. They joined Lord Smith, Chairman of Glasgow 2014, the First Minister, Alex Salmond, and Douglas Nisbet, Ernst & Young’s Glasgow Office Managing Partner.

This sponsorship with Glasgow 2014 forms part of a global drive by Ernst & Young to become a market leader in Professional Services in the world of sport.

The announcement is a proud moment for the firm, because Arthur Young, born in 1863 in Glasgow and educated later at Glasgow University, established Arthur Young & Company, before it merged with Ernst & Whinney in 1989 to create Ernst & Young.

Douglas Nisbet, Ernst & Young Glasgow office managing partner, said: “We are extremely proud to be the first global business to pledge its support for Glasgow 2014 and believe our heritage, our history and our position at the heart of the city makes us a natural partner for the Games. Our aim of creating a sustainable legacy for our Scottish practice, underlined by the investment in our new office, mirrors the goals of the Games’ organisers.

“We are committed to providing Glasgow 2014 with world-class professional services support as we work together to achieve those goals and deliver a successful Games that Glasgow and Scotland can be proud of.”

Glasgow 2014 Chairman Lord Smith said: “Ernst & Young is a fantastic addition to the Glasgow 2014 family, and bring with them unparalleled expertise in professional services. By becoming an official supporter for the Games, they have made a strong statement of their support for this country by investing in what will be a truly outstanding Games.

“Working across the globe, as well as recently being appointed as sponsors to the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Ernst & Young are successfully blending business, culture and sport in Scotland, for their clients, staff and the people of Glasgow.

Welcoming the news, Peter Nicolson, Commonwealth Games Scotland Board member said: “Commonwealth Games Scotland is delighted that Ernst & Young has signed up to provide a wide range of professional advisory services that are absolutely crucial to the complex business of delivering a spectacular, athlete-centred Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014. It is great to have a company of their standing on board with the added benefit of their strong interest in the global sports industry.”

As part of this deal, Ernst & Young has committed to providing access to key individuals with multi-Games experience. Their team will be headed by Stephen Farrell, Commonwealth partner at Ernst & Young in Scotland, and will include David Leather, a partner at the firm who was the Deputy Chief Executive at Manchester 2002.