London Marathon and Virgin Money announce new sponsorship deal

The London Marathon has announced a five-year extension to its sponsorship deal with Virgin Money and revealed a new race logo and title for 2014.

Virgin Money, the banking division of the Virgin Group of companies, will continue as London Marathon sponsor until at least 2017, while the race will change its name from the Virgin London Marathon to the Virgin Money London Marathon from next year.

London Marathon race director Hugh Brasher welcomed the new deal as a sign of the event's enduring appeal across Britain and global status as the world's premier big city marathon.

"We are delighted to have Virgin Money as our race sponsors for another five years", he said. "The event has gone from strength to strength since the first Virgin London Marathon in 2010. We have had some of the greatest fields in the history of marathon running and seen some of the best races in 33 years of the London Marathon.

"In addition, our runners have continued to raise more and more money for charity, many of them using Virgin Money Giving, and the Marathon itself continues to break all records for charity fundraising. We are convinced our partnership with Virgin Money will help to confirm our status as the world's number one marathon".

Jayne-Anne Gadhia, chief executive of Virgin Money, said: "I am delighted to announce the extension of Virgin Money's London Marathon sponsorship. It is such an epic and inspirational day and holds the record as the world's biggest annual fundraising event.

"We launched Virgin Money Giving in 2009 as it has always been our ambition to support the runners in their attempts to raise even greater amounts of money for good causes".