January 1, 2009. Tarpon Springs, Florida – After ten years of as owner, Mr Charlie Mandel wishes to announce the sale of Rankmark, Inc. the world’s leading independent golf club testing company. In November 2008, an agreement was consummated to sell Rankmark to Andrew Birnbaum and Paul McCormack.
Mr Mandel founded the company in 1998. Since that time, Rankmark has provided the golfing public with free, unbiased results of golf club performance through testing and publishing the results via its website, www.rankmark.com. Over the years it has grown considerably. For the last two years, the website receives over 2,000,000 hits monthly. Rankmark tests Drivers, Fairway Woods, Hybrids, Irons, Wedges and Putters from almost everyone like Adams, Bobby Jones, Callaway, Cleveland, Mizuno, Nike, Ping, Titleist, TaylorMade, Wilson, as well as many of the up and coming brands.
“They offered to buy my hobby and turn it into a very large and important part of the golfing business.” Say Mandel. “Well, Rankmark is like one of my kids. How could I resist seeing it grow taller and stronger?” Charlie will continue to remain actively involved with Rankmark in his official role as founder. In addition, Mr. Mandel has plans to develop a website focused on women’s golf.
Some of the changes to the company include moving their primary operations to the West coast. Rankmark is now reporting test results to new categories as well, Men’s High and Low Handicap, Senior’s and Women’s will be in all the 2009 tests. A Pricing category has also been added. The site will be translated into eight different languages. Ease of use to the site and video will be expanded. “This will really help our viewership get the information they specifically want about the equipment” says Andrew Birnbaum, the new CEO.
Another interesting move, is that all of the manufacture’s advertisements have been pulled. “We didn’t want even the slightest consideration that the results are ever altered in any way, the test results are what they are. Because of this we felt that no manufacture or company whose products we test should advertise, it’s just simpler this way.” states Paul McCormack Rankmark’s new COO.
Andrew Birnbaum will take to role of Chief Executive Officer. Andrew is a golf industry veteran with over twenty years experience in both golf products and services. Most recently, he served as Chief Operating Officer for Sonartec. Previously Andrew was Chief Executive Officer of A&C Marketing.
Paul McCormack is the new Chief operating Officer. He is originally from Scotland (golf’s birthplace) and immigrated to the States in 1994. Paul has held positions with PricewaterhouseCoopers, Delta Air Lines, Ernst & Young. In addition to his professional experience, Paul has several degrees. He is a graduate of the University of Stirling, Scotland in Economics with Business Law. Paul also has a Masters in Business Administration from The Ohio State University. Mr. McCormack also holds a specialized degree from the Graduate School of Banking at Louisiana State University. Paul resides in Atlanta, Georgia.
The company is performing tests throughout the year and is an important part of the industry.
For more information on Rankmark, please contact Paul McCormack, COO at paul@rankmark.com
Or call (404) 825-1040, or visit www.rankmark.com
Contact:
PAUL McCORMACK
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
1579 MONROE DRIVE, SUITE F131
ATLANTA, GA 30324
Tel: (404) 825 1040
Email: paul@rankmark.com
