Retired Olympic swimmer, Susie O’Neill, has been appointed as the ambassador of Australia’s largest swimming pool franchise, Swimart.

O’Neill’s involvement in the franchise officially commenced in early September, 2009, and will continue for three years. She will be the face of Swimart’s consumer communications strategy and will assist with their advertising and promotional activity.

According to Chris Fitzmaurice, national franchise manager, O’Neill will also play an important role in boosting staff morale. She will be associated with our franchisees and I believe that her involvement in our business is going to inspire and motivate our franchisees to strive a little bit harder and improve the standard of the business that they operate.

I actually think that she can play a major role in influencing the culture of the company, he said.

When selecting the new face of the franchise, Swimart was looking for someone that was well recognised and respected across the country, had a genuine association with the pool and spa industry and who could relate to its customers.

According to Fitzmaurice, O’Neill meets all of these criteria. The majority of pool use in Australia is done by kids and families, and Mums play a major role in determining how the family pool is maintained. Susie, being a mother and also a swimmer, can identify with the need to have good and safe water in pools. So we feel that our customers can relate to Susie and vise versa.