(28th May 2013, NYC) Three of the world’s most celebrated sportsmen – David Beckham, Andy Murray and Lewis Hamilton – praised Simon Fuller tonight in New York tonight as he was honoured by the St George’s Society, the oldest British charity in America.
The Anglo-American Cultural Award was given to Simon Fuller by the British Ambassador to the United States of America, Sir Peter Westmacott, in recognition for 25 years of achievement in entertainment and to mark his success as a British entrepreneur working in North America.
David Beckham said: “It’s fitting that Simon has been celebrated on a night like tonight. Much of what he’s done in America has showcased the best of being British in today’s world, and it shows that as a nation we’ve got a lot to be proud of”.
Lewis Hamilton, 2008 F1 World Champion, said: “Simon Fuller has been an inspiration to so many incredible people over the last 25 years, from Annie Lennox to the Spice Girls, and from American Idol to the Beckhams. He has a way in bringing out the best in people, and an instinctive sense of what’s the right thing to do. That’s rare in a business like sport, where there are so many competitive people all trying to grab the No.1 spot.
Andy Murray, London 2012 Gold Medal Winner and ATP US Open Grand Slam 2013 winner, said: “Congratulations Simon. You’ve created some amazing work over the years, and you’ve helped raise a great deal of money for charities and good causes around the world so this is really well deserved”.
The award was given to Simon Fuller by Sir Peter Westmacott, Her Majesty’s Representative to the United States of America, who praised Mr Fuller for his contribution to Anglo-American entertainment culture.
He said: “Simon Fuller has left an indelible mark on the United States. From his breakthrough success managing the Spice Girls to bringing the Idol franchise across the Atlantic, Simon has been at the forefront of shaping British soft power in the United States. This is evidenced by the fact that American Idol is the most watched entertainment show in American television history and the fact that more Americans vote for the winner of American Idol than cast ballots during Presidential elections.
“Today Simon runs XIX Entertainment, his own global entertainment firm, from offices in London and Los Angeles. His business interests extend to producing films by British movie stars including Sir Michael Caine and Robert Pattinson. He runs two fashion businesses in London with Victoria Beckham and Roland Mouret, and he owns a music company with the man who discovered Bob Marley, Chris Blackwell.
Notes on the St George’s Society:
As one of the oldest and most prominent Anglo-American organizations in New York, St. George’s Society for many years has been actively involved in promoting and cultivating the special relationship between the US and the UK. Established almost 250 years ago by British colonists to provide advice and relief to needy British persons in New York, today the
Society offers financial aid to disadvantaged people of British and Commonwealth descent. It does this through its beneficiary program for the elderly, handicapped and others in crisis and its scholarship program for promising students enrolled at Lehman College, part of the City University of New York.
Issued by XIX Entertainment