Golf Industry Veteran Brings Impressive Background, Expertise to Leading Shaft Manufacturer
(SAN DIEGO, California) – Graphite Design — maker of some of the most widely played graphite driver shaft models on the PGA TOUR — today announces that golf industry veteran Tim Gillis has been named Vice President of Sales and Marketing.
Gillis brings more than 25 years of experience to the role, in which he’ll oversee all sales and marketing functions, focus on building the Graphite Design brand, and further advance the company’s original equipment manufacturer ("OEM") business.
Gillis worked the past 13 years at shaftmaker True Temper, most recently as Vice President of Western Sales. Gillis also boasts an extensive sales and marketing background with Mizuno, Wood Brothers, Mitchell Golf, Longball Sports and Progear.
"Tim brings a wealth of experience, knowledge and contacts to this position and we are thrilled to have him on board," says Akio Karashima, President of Graphite Design. "He will further strengthen Graphite Design’s sales and marketing activities as we place even greater focus on this area of the business. Adding Tim to Graphite Design’s executive team is a key step to expanding the strongest organization in the industry."
Adds Gillis: "I am very excited about working for a company considered the class of the graphite shaft category. Graphite Design has an impressive history built on its superior products, and I look forward to developing new strategies to further enhance the company’s stature and brand recognition."
Graphite Design has enjoyed worldwide success on professional tours in 2007, powering players to numerous wins on the PGA, Nationwide, Champions, LPGA and Japan Tours. The company recently introduced the Tour AD Quattro Tech ultra-premium shaft in the U.S. and launched its G-TECH combination-flex custom clubmaker series of wood and iron shafts, designed for exceptional playability throughout the bag. Graphite Design is the graphite shaftmaker of choice for Hank Haney, coach to the world’s top-ranked player.
In 2006, Graphite Design shafts were played by 41 winners of professional tournaments worldwide. Players using Graphite Design shafts amassed more than $90 million in PGA TOUR earnings in 2006 while the company earned more graphite wood-shaft model count victories on the PGA TOUR (16) than any other manufacturer. On the Japan Tour, Graphite Design shafts were in the bags of 18 winners in 2006 while the company extended its win streak in the wood-shaft brand count to 134 consecutive tournaments – an unprecedented string dating to 2002.
About Graphite Design
Graphite Design, established in Japan in 1989 and in the U.S. in 1997, is one of the world’s three largest golf-club shaft manufacturers. The company made its mark manufacturing high-performance shafts for most of golf’s major OEMs worldwide, including the top four companies by sales volume, and Graphite Design shafts continue to be preferred by top clubmakers worldwide. The company’s mainstay YS shafts, the newly-introduced Pershing shafts and other models are extremely popular among avid and occasional golfers.
Revolutionary technology, design and sourcing the most advanced materials are trademarks in all Graphite Design shafts, making them the highest quality performance shafts on the market. Validating the company’s "AD" logo, all of Graphite Design’s PGA Tour-proven shafts specifically promote "Accuracy and Distance" and these key competitive advantages are helping professional and amateur golfers optimize their games after switching to Graphite Design shafts.
For more information about Graphite Design: 888.707.6132, info@gdintl.com ; www.gdintl.com .
Contact:
Daniel Mitchell
Buffalo Communications
253.312.4536
dmitchell@billycaspergolf.com
