TW Steel CEO Jordy Cobelens with Ian Thorpe

Amsterdam, The Netherlands (December 2009) – TW Steel, the international Dutch watch brand specializing in oversized watches, is please to announce a partnership with Ian Thorpe, one of Australia’s most prolific sportsmen.

Thorpe (27), a five-time Olympic gold medalist and eleven-time World Champion in freestyle swimming, is the first Australian brand ambassador to be unveiled since ‘The Watch in Steel’ opened its subsidiary office in Sydney in June 2009.

The Australian made his first public appearance for the brand, alongside TW Steel’s 27-year old Chief Executive Officer and owner, Jordy Cobelens, at Nader Jewellers in Sydney on December 8th, where he was officially presented with a collection of watches while posing for photographs at the jewelers annual VIP Night at their store in Parramatta.

“I’m tremendously excited to have Ian Thorpe partner with TW Steel,” stated Jordy Cobelens on his visit to Australia to meet the renowned Olympian.

“He boasts an incredible sporting record at the Olympics and World Championships and is undoubtedly one of his country’s most recognized sports ambassadors despite recently retiring from competition. To have someone of Ian’s caliber associated with TW Steel as we establish our market presence in Australia, and of course globally, immediately gives further credibility to the brand while further promotion our shared values such as performance and excellence.”

Ian Thorpe commented, “I’m naturally very pleased to be working with a brand as engaging as TW Steel. I think their collection is extremely dynamic and well suited to the Australian consumer. I really love the fact that they are a young but ambitious company and having seen their commitment to Australia, I’m exceptionally proud to be their first brand ambassador in this market.”

TW Steel leads the oversized watch market having launched in The Netherlands in 2005 with a simple four-watch collection. Emerging as an innovative, bold lifestyle brand, now available in over 50 countries worldwide, TW Steel’s roots are based firmly on family foundations.

TW Steel is also now the ‘Official Timing Partner’ to the Renault F1 Team in a three year partnership set to run from 2010-2012.