De Lage Landen reveal skipper for global campaign

De Lage Landen, a global provider of leasing and finance solutions, launched their new Clipper 70 yacht entry that will race around the globe in the Clipper 13-14 Round the World Yacht Race this afternoon. The yacht, part of the new state of the art fleet of ocean racers owned and operated by the race organisers and debuting in the latest edition of the Clipper Race, will be named One DLL. The distinctive blue livery and name reflects the company’s ethos of uniting its members around the world.

Ronald Slaats, CEO De Lage Landen: “For an international company like we are, working together is crucial in order to be successful. Just like at De Lage Landen, teamwork is key in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race. Our participation in the previous edition of the Clipper Race had a positive impact on the internal connection between employees all over the world. It also strengthened the collaboration with our partners worldwide.  Participating in the Clipper 13-14 Race, gives us the opportunity to build this further.”

One DLL will be crewed by amateurs, including members of their own staff, under professional skipper Oliver Cotterell. He was selected by the Clipper Race following a rigorous selection process as one of just twelve exceptional skippers to make the grade from hundreds of applicants.

The 27-year-old from Cowes, who has been a professional sailor since graduating from university, will be skippering the race for the first time and is delighted to be leading One DLL.

“Like most sailors, I have always wanted to sail around the world. Doing so competitively on a matched fleet in such a prestigious race is a unique opportunity. I have always found sail training rewarding, particularly seeing crew develop from novice sailors to capable yachtsmen and yachtswomen.  The Clipper Race will give me the opportunity to follow a dream while doing something I love.

“It is a great honour to be named skipper of One DLL. I have seen the great things that De Lage Landen achieved through their participation in the Clipper 11-12 Race, and I hope I will be able to help them accomplish ever greater success on this edition of the race.”

De Lage Landen, a subsidiary of Rabobank, invested in the Clipper 11-12 Race to launch a worldwide employee engagement programme following a period of global growth through acquisitions, with the yacht acting as a catalyst to unite their 5,600 members (employees) worldwide. Eight specially selected DLL Crew Ambassadors raced to their international offices on almost every continent.

De Lage Landen will use their involvement in the 2013-14 edition of the Clipper Race to build on that external success using the global reach of the event to unify the business and engage with customers in key markets; they will build on their previous internal engagement initiative which used a popular nomination process for staff to take part in the race, giving 17 specially selected members the chance to compete as a tag team in all eight legs of this extraordinary around the world adventure.

The Clipper 13-14 Race will set off from the UK in late August on a 40,000 miles journey around the globe, making it the world’s longest ocean race, stopping at 15 ports on six continents over 11 months.