DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., Aug. 28, 2009 — Bill Susetka, former chief marketing officer (CMO) of the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) as well as former president, Clairol U.S. Retail and Clairol International, was elected by the membership of the LPGA Tour as an independent director of the LPGA Board of Directors. The vote was held in Beaverton, Ore., prior to the start of the Safeway Classic Presented by Coca-Cola.
“We are thrilled to welcome Bill to the LPGA Board of Directors,” said Dawn Hudson, chairman of the Board of Directors of the LPGA. “Bill has more than 30-plus years of global business expertise, and he also brings a wonderful perspective of how our organization operates having served as the CMO for several years. His knowledge of our business, passion for the growth of the game and the LPGA, as well as his tremendous creative and executive leadership will be a wonderful addition to our already dedicated Board of Directors.”
As LPGA CMO (2007-May 2009), Susetka was responsible for all LPGA marketing functions, including partnership services, tournament marketing, brand marketing, emerging media, creative services and license and merchandising. He also led the re-design and launch of the LPGA’s new logo in 2007, the first in 15 years, and served as the architect of the successful LPGA Tour Summit in May 2009.
“It is a great honor for me to have the opportunity to work with the LPGA as a member of the Board,” said Susetka. “I believe strongly in the players and staff and am excited about the bright future of this great brand.”
Susetka brought 30 years of marketing experience and business leadership to the position. He led double-digit beauty growth for three years (2002-05) as president of Global Marketing for Avon Products, Inc. During that time, he 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 Bachelor of Science degree in management from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and an MBA from Columbia University.
About the LPGA Board of Directors
The responsibility for oversight and guidance of the management of the LPGA lies with the LPGA Board of Directors. The Board of Directors is composed of six independent directors, the LPGA Player Directors (Player Executive Committee), the national president of the LPGA Teaching and Club Professionals (T&CP), and the commissioner of the LPGA. The Player Directors may select annually up to three additional LPGA players, one of whom has previously been a Player Director, to serve for one year as non-voting player directors of the Player Executive Committee. Non-voting members of the Player Executive Committee are not members of the Board of Directors, but may be invited to attend select meetings.
The 2009 LPGA Player Directors are: Michelle Ellis, president; Sherri Steinhauer, vice president; Helen Alfredsson; Pat Hurst; Juli Inkster; Christina Kim; and Stacy Prammanasudh. The Non-Voting Player Directors of the Player Executive Committee are Katie Futcher, Il Mi Chung, Jean Bartholomew.
The LPGA independent board members are: Leslie Greis, founder, CEO and managing member of Perennial Capital Advisors, LLC; Dawn Hudson, former president and chief executive officer, Pepsi-Cola North America, Pepsico, Inc.; Bill Morton, former chief executive and current chairman of Jack Morton Worldwide; Bill Susetka, former CMO of the LPGA as well as former president, Clairol U.S. Retail and Clairol International; and Nancy Wiese, former vice president of worldwide brand marketing/advertising, Xerox Corporation. Hudson is chairman of the Board of Directors of the LPGA.
Contact:
Connie Wilson, LPGA, 386-274-6200, connie.wilson@lpga.com
