DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., Nov. 29, 2006 — Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Commissioner Carolyn F. Bivens today named William F. Susetka as the LPGA’s chief marketing officer (CMO). He will assume the role on Jan. 2, 2007.
As LPGA CMO, Susetka will be responsible for all LPGA marketing functions, including: licensing and merchandising; media; market research; corporate advertising; and brand building. In this role, he will oversee the marketing, creative services, corporate sponsorships, original programming, concept development and emerging media departments, while continuing to strengthen the LPGA brand image among consumers and sponsors and raise the awareness level of the LPGA and its members.
"I am thrilled to welcome Bill to the LPGA," said Bivens. "With 30 years of experience, he is both a seasoned marketer as well as a business leader who has shown exceptional agility in building and executing successful strategies in major companies. Coming off one of the most successful seasons in Tour history, there is great momentum surrounding the LPGA and we look forward to having Bill as a key member of the LPGA team."
Most recently, Susetka served as chief operating officer of Nice-Pak Products (2005-06). Prior to that, he was president of Global Marketing for Avon Products Inc. (2002-05), where he led double-digit beauty growth for three years and introduced the most successful new product launches for skin care and fragrance in Avon history with Anew Clinical, Cellu-Sculpt and the Today, Tomorrow, Always fragrance trilogy.
For more than 25 years, Susetka worked at Clairol, Inc. There he held several executive-level positions including president, Clairol U.S. Retail from 1999-2001, where he was responsible for $1 billion in sales. In this role, he also had worldwide oversight of Research and Development and Operations. Prior to overseeing the U.S. market, he was president of Clairol International, where he was responsible for all markets outside of the United States. He led the international expansion of the Herbal Essences Hair Care line, which grew to become the largest brand franchise in Clairol history.
Susetka received a B.S. in Management from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and an MBA from Columbia University.
Susetka and his wife Stephanie will relocate to the Daytona Beach area in the coming weeks.
About the Ladies Professional Golf Association
Featuring the world’s best women golfers, the LPGA’s membership includes touring, teaching and club professionals. The LPGA Tour in 2006 features 36 events, with total prize money of nearly $52 million. Since 1981, the LPGA and its tournaments have raised approximately $170 million for charity. From the dreams of its 13 founders in 1950, the LPGA has evolved into the world’s pre-eminent women’s professional sports organization. The LPGA has grown from its roots as a playing tour into a non-profit organization involved in every facet of golf. In addition to the LPGA Tour members, the LPGA membership includes nearly 1,200 certified Teaching and Club Professionals (T&CP) who serve the golf industry in teaching, coaching and management positions. The LPGA T&CP member programs focus on increasing the involvement of women, girls and youth in golf, as well as contribute to the growth of the sport overall. The LPGA is headquartered in Daytona Beach, Fla. For more information on the LPGA, log on to www.LPGA.com.
Contact:
Connie Wilson, LPGA
386-274-6200
connie.wilson@lpga.com
