Other Key Nike Golf Appointments Also Announced
BEAVERTON, Ore. (October 7, 2008)- Nike Golf today announced the appointment of Mike Francis to U.S. General Manager and Stan Grissinger to General Manager for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) effective by December 1, 2008, according to company President Cindy Davis. Francis will be succeeding Davis, who was recently promoted from U.S. General Manager to the position of President, and Grissinger will assume Francis’ role.
Mike Francis is currently Nike Golf’s General Manager for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), a position he has held for three years. Prior to his role in Europe, Francis was General Manager for Nike Golf Canada, where he was responsible for the initial establishment of Nike Golf business in that region. As Nike Golf’s U.S. General Manager, Francis will oversee the U.S. business for Nike Golf, including sales, operations, marketing and sports marketing.
“Mike Francis has been an effective leader within Nike Golf and has the ideal skill set and experience to manage Nike Golf’s U.S. business,” said Davis, Nike Golf President. “He has a proven track record in generating incremental revenues in both Europe and Canada, and we look forward to Mike’s continued leadership to drive growth for our U.S. business.”
Francis joined Nike in 2003 from Wilson Golf, where he had ascended through various roles from territory sales to merchandising management, marketing, and ultimately sales leadership. He began his 21-year career in the golf industry at Ram Golf, after graduating from Dalhouise University in his native Canada.
Stan Grissinger is succeeding Francis as Nike Golf’s EMEA General Manager. Grissinger has been Nike Golf’s Category Business Director for Clubs and Balls for the past three years. Under Grissinger’s guidance, Nike Golf has expanded its club and ball R&D efforts and product business strategies.
“Stan’s leadership in our club and ball categories has resulted in numerous important product innovations that have further established Nike Golf’s reputation and market share in the highly competitive ball and club business,” said Davis. “He has been integral to the growth of Nike Golf and he will continue to have a positive influence on the business in his new role.”
Prior to his role as Category Business Director for Clubs and Balls, Grissinger was the Category Business Director for Balls for four years after first joining Nike Golf in 1999 as Product Director for Golf Balls.
Other Key Appointments at Nike Golf
Rob Arluna – Arluna, who joined Nike Golf a year ago as the U.S. Marketing Director, will assume the new responsibility of Category Business Director of Clubs. As U.S. Marketing Director, Arluna has designed and implemented a highly successful structural reorganization of the marketing department. He also has led the development of new focused messaging and branding including the highly successful Tiger U.S. Open “Never” TV and digital campaign. Prior to joining Nike Golf, Arluna was the Director of Brand Management for Odyssey and led a three-year strategic business plan including the brand plan, product line development, pricing and management of revenue, margin and profitability goals.
Mike Crowell – Succeeding Arluna as U.S. Marketing Director is Mike Crowell. Crowell joins Nike Golf from Nike, Inc., where he has been the U.S. Advertising Director. In that role, he has been responsible for the creation of all brand communications in the U.S. across all categories including the recent Nike Sparq and Olympics campaigns. Prior to that, Mike held positions as Nike’s Senior Advertising Manager, as well as Global Marketing Director for Oakley.
Located in Beaverton, Oregon, Nike Golf designs and markets golf equipment, apparel, balls, footwear, bags and accessories worldwide. Nike Golf is passionately dedicated to honoring and respecting the traditions and heritage of the game, and to providing committed golfers with the absolute best equipment in the game. In 2008, Nike Golf’s PGA Tour staff has 11 wins and 59 top-10 finishes. In 2007, Nike Golf had 13 PGA Tour wins, seven Nationwide Tour victories and eight international titles. For the last two years, Nike Golf has led the PGA Tour in driver, fairway woods and iron wins. For more information on Nike Golf, visit our Web site at www.nikegolf.com. Editors and journalists in the U.S. seeking editorial information and downloadable images, visit www.nikegolf.com/presscenter. For international journalists, please contact Nike Golf’s public relations representative in respective countries for information.
Contact:
Beth Gast – Nike Golf
503.532.8852
beth.gast@nike.com
Gretchen Wilhelm – Nike Golf
503.532.6236
gretchen.wilhelm@nike.com
