A Bermudian-based company, prominent on the international stage, has joined forces with the island’s Olympic Games gold medalist.

Apex Group Ltd, the global financial services provider, has become a sponsor and sustainability partner to world champion triathlete Dame Flora Duffy, who captured gold in the women’s triathlon at last year’s Games in Tokyo.

In addition to sponsoring Ms Duffy, Apex said it would help her to calculate, reduce and offset the carbon footprint she accrues through her packed travel and competition schedule.

Ms Duffy, who was made a dame in the 2022 New Year’s Honours for her services to sport in Bermuda, said: “I am proud to be starting this partnership with Apex Group, who share my Bermudian roots and global outlook.

“As a professional triathlete, my career involves significant amounts of travel to competitions and training and I have a responsibility to play my part in the fight against climate change by calculating, reducing and offsetting my carbon footprint.

“With Apex’s help, I hope to become carbon neutral within a year and to set an example for other athletes.

“Apex walks the walk and has recently offset its own lifetime of carbon emissions – I look forward to sporting their logo when I next compete and thank them for their support.”

In addition to her victory in Tokyo, the 34-year-old has also claimed five International Triathlon Union titles (three ITU Triathlon World Championships, two ITU Cross Triathlon World Championships), the 2018 Commonwealth Games women’s triathlon gold medal and six XTERRA Triathlon World Championships.

Apex, established in Bermuda in 2003, is one of the world’s fastest growing financial services providers with more than 50 offices worldwide.

The group is a global market leader in the provision of environmental, social and governance services for both the private and public sectors.

Apex is the official sustainability partner of Cricket West Indies – the governing body for all professional and amateur cricket in the region – and was a Windies shirt sponsor for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2021, and title sponsor of the three-match Apex Test Series between West Indies and England in March.

We asked David Carrick, CFO, Apex Group, about the sponsorship of Ms Duffy.

RG: What is the value and duration of Apex’s sponsorship and sustainability partnership with Ms Duffy?

DC: We have signed an initial three-year partnership with Flora, providing her with sponsorship and sustainability support in the crucial run up to the Paris 2024 Olympics. We are not disclosing commercial terms of this partnership.

RG: Why did Apex, a global financial services provider, choose to sponsor and partner with Ms Duffy?

DC: Apex and Flora both have their roots in Bermuda – it is where we were founded – and are committed to excellence on the global stage in our respective fields. We have followed Flora’s trailblazing career to date closely, watching her become Bermuda’s first female Commonwealth gold medal-winner and the only person to win three triathlon titles in the same year.

Flora has long demonstrated her commitment to the Bermudian community and as a responsible global citizen, with her eponymous “The Flora Fund” supporting aspiring young athletes to maximise their potential. We are proud to not only be sponsoring Flora, but also to be supporting her with our sustainability services.

RG: How did the agreement come about?

DC: We are always on the lookout for potential partnership opportunities with teams and individual athletes who demonstrate and share our values including a commitment to sustainability and the environment. We were initially introduced to Flora through the Bermuda business community.

RG: What will the sustainability partnership entail?

DC: Our purpose is to be more than just a financial services provider and to drive positive change for a more sustainable future. As part of Flora’s commitment to sustainability, our award-winning ESG team will conduct a carbon footprint assessment by gathering data on Flora’s scope 1, 2 and 3 carbon emissions including travel over a year-long period. Our ESG team will then advise Flora on how to reduce and responsibly offset her carbon footprint through one of our offsetting partners.

In addition, we are committed to women’s empowerment in all aspects of life, including equity of opportunity in both business and sport. Flora will be working with us to promote equal opportunities for women including sharing her insights with our employees and members of our recently launched Women’s Accelerator programme.

RG: Will Apex be announcing further sustainability partnerships with sporting teams or individuals either in Bermuda or internationally?

DC: Our partnership with Flora continues our commitment to promoting sustainability in sport following our landmark sustainability partnership with Cricket West Indies, announced last year. We encourage more sporting teams, venues and events to drive positive change and are here to help guide them to understand their impacts, and to design an achievable plan to become carbon neutral and implement long-term sustainable change.

Our ESG team are currently working with sporting teams, clubs and national organisations across rugby, soccer and others to support them on their journey to carbon neutrality – we look forward to sharing more on their progress soon.

RG: When will Ms Duffy next be competing wearing the Apex logo?

DC: Flora will next be competing, wearing the Apex logo on 14 May at the WTCS in Yokohama, Japan. We all look forward to cheering her on!