Company Veteran Seeks to Further Distance Brand as Global Leader in High-Performance Golf Shaft Category
(SAN DIEGO, California) – Graphite Design — maker of some of the most widely played graphite driver shaft models on the PGA TOUR — today announces that Kenzo Imamura has been named Director and President of the company’s United States operations.
Formerly Managing Director of Administration for Graphite Design’s world headquarters in Japan, Imamura has been with the company for more than 10 years. He was previously employed by Toray, a supplier of composite materials used in Graphite Design’s high-performance shafts.
Imamura succeeds Director and President Akio Karashima, who will return to his native Japan to be closer to family after three years at the helm of Graphite Design, based in San Diego. Under Karashima, Graphite Design expanded its U.S. operations through outstanding relationships with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and a growing distribution network, while solidifying its status as the preferred shaft of leading professional and amateur golfers.
"I am excited about the opportunity to lead Graphite Design’s U.S.
operations and honored to have been chosen for this role," Imamura says. "We will continue to emphasize new product development, including the expansion of Graphite Design’s highly popular YS line, while further enhancing the industry’s most advanced manufacturing processes. Helping golfers of all levels achieve optimal accuracy and distance is the ultimate goal of Graphite Design, an objective to which we remain firmly committed."
In addition, Takuro Yamada has been named Director/Manager of Corporate Planning at Graphite Design (U.S.). Yamada served as Sales Manager for Graphite Design Japan the past six years and is the son of Megumi Yamada, Chairman and CEO of Graphite Design Japan.
Worldwide, Graphite Design has enjoyed unparalleled success on professional tours in 2007, powering players to two dozen wins on the PGA, Nationwide, Champions, LPGA and Japan Tours. Graphite Design has stretched its streak of wood shaft brand count wins to an unprecedented 145 consecutive events on the Japan Tour dating to 2002, often outpacing the nearest competitor by 50 shafts or more.
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.
Graphite Design recently introduced the Tour AD Quattro Tech ultra- premium shaft in the U.S. as well as its G-TECH combination-flex custom-clubmaker series of wood and iron shafts. Graphite Design is the graphite shaftmaker of choice for Hank Haney, coach to the world’s top-ranked player.
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
