Roger Federer, known worldwide as a tennis icon and sports legend, has left his mark not only on the tennis court, but also in the business world. The partnership between Federer and innovative sports brand On Running is just one solid example of his successful venture outside of tennis.
The commercial career of tennis legend Roger Federer
Rather than limit himself to his impressive tennis performances, Federer has established himself as a shrewd investor and entrepreneur. During his active career, he has had several profitable collaborations with influential (sports) brands such as Credit Suisse Group, Rolex, Louis Vuitton, Swiss Tourism and Wilson Sporting Goods.
Some partnerships continue despite his retirement. Federer told Forbes that he loves helping aspiring compatriots achieve their commercial dreams. “I’m so fascinated by the Swiss guys who make it global,” he said. “In Switzerland you have to go global at some point and that’s why I like to support and hear the Swiss story.”
Maybe they thought I was too old.
Partly for this reason, he decided to invest an undisclosed amount in On Running, a Swiss running shoe manufacturer, spinning a 3% stake in the company. An investment worth now more than 330 million dollars, equivalent to about 302 million euros. “Maybe they thought I was too old, but we knew again that just having a permanent ambassador role for me wasn’t the right thing to do,” Federer revealed to Forbes.
Roger Bruce
Launched in 2010, On Running has created a huge following with its use of “cloud” technology or a revolutionary cushioning system. The brand received a boost in 2019 when Roger Federer invested in the company as part of an endorsement deal following his split from Nike.
Joining forces with a brand that wants to differentiate itself with its own approach to sports shoes and apparel, Federer has proven that he is not only a ruler on the tennis court, but also has plenty of capital and standing in the business world. With the world’s third-most Grand Slam title (20) and long-standing dominance in the tennis world, he has established himself as one of the greatest players of all time. Once his name is attached to something, he promises to be a guaranteed hit.
