Eight-time German champions Borussia Dortmund will open their first representative office outside Germany on 15 October to meet the growing interest in the club across Asia. The BVB office will be located in Singapore, the sprawling metropolis of more than 5.5 million, and it will be headed by Suresh Letchmanan (41), a native of Singapore.

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Carsten Cramer (Director of Sales and Marketing), Suresh Letchmanan (Head of Asia | Chief Representative Asia), Hans-Joachim Watzke (Chairman of the Management Board)

Letchmanan has already spent 10 years in the Asian sports industry and is fluent in four languages. With the office located in the vicinity of the German Football League (DFL) desk, he will be working together with another employee on the premises of BVB main sponsor EVONIK to provide the people of Southeast Asia with in-depth information about the Black and Yellows.

During the Supercup match against FC Bayern Munich, Letchmanan was able to take in the unique experience of Borussia Dortmund football for the very first time. He was deeply impressed: “I lived in England for a few years, and there they always told me to go and visit Signal Iduna Park and its unique, purist football atmosphere. I’ve finally made it here and I have to admit that my expectations have been exceeded. Even at first glance, the BVB family is overwhelming. I’m proud to have been entrusted with the task of winning more and more people for BVB and I will never forget the roots of the club.”

Hans-Joachim Watzke has high hopes of the first foreign representative office in the club’s 105-year history. The Dortmund chairman said: “We see a lot of growth potential for BVB in international markets. The local BVB office, which will be headed by someone who knows the ins and outs of Southeast Asia and has numerous contacts, will make it easier for us to establish the Borussia Dortmund brand more strongly and above all on a sustainable basis. That we are able to do the networking together with our partners EVONIK and PUMA makes the commitment in Asia even more valuable.”

Singapore is considered to be the economic hub of Asia. “We have already got off to a good start in Japan, but in other Asian markets our sales have tripled in recent years as well,” said Carsten Cramer, Borussia Dortmund’s Director of Sales and Marketing. The high number of users of BVB’s website and their social media channels suggest that there is even more Black and Yellow potential slumbering in Asia. Cramer said: “We have received a real boost through our successes on the international stage and the intense, authentic football experience which BVB stands for. And, of course, we now want to use that boost with an authentic appearance in Asia.”