Sammy, BMW brand ambassador, with the Convertible.
St. Lucian cricketer Darren Sammy has made history.
He has been appointed BMW brand ambassador, the first sports personality from the Caribbean to be given this prestigious honour. BMW, through its local agency Ultimate Automobiles, chose Sammy to represent the brand.
Managing Director of Ultimate Automobiles Mario Reyes said the development has made him an extremely proud St. Lucian.
“Darren Sammy is the first West Indian to ever be appointed on behalf of the BMW Group as a brand ambassador outside Germany. Typically sportsmen like golfers Bernhard Langer and Martin Kaymar and rugby’s Alex Cordisio have been endorsed as brand ambassadors for BMW,” Reyes said.
At a short ceremony, during which the keys were handed over to Sammy, Reyes said that “when somebody drives a BMW, they are confident in what they are doing and Sammy exudes confidence when he represents the West Indies cricket team and the region”.
Ultimate Automobiles then presented Sammy with the keys to a brand new BMW Series ONE convertible to be used at his leisure for the next two years. Reyes said it’s an honour that is given to a sports personality, not just based on ability but on deportment and leadership abilities.
Sammy accepted the honour with humility.
“I am truly honoured and probably I don’t have the words to express my gratitude to you. I vow to associate myself with what the brand means. They say it’s the ultimate vehicle; I want to be the ultimate man when I go out there on the cricket field. I am very, very proud to associate myself with this brand,” said the West Indian cricketer.
Sammy last week played his 100th One Day International for the West Indies and last year captained the West Indies to its first ICC T20 tournament win.
Reyes said this significant achievement ought to inspire St. Lucian athletes to work hard, be professional and represent their country with honour and integrity. He also called on the private sector to support local athletes in their quest to fly the national flag regionally and internationally.
BMW was a major sponsor of the ICC cricket tournament which was hosted in the Caribbean a few years ago and has had a strong association internationally with golf and sailing.