HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC- Peter Orrell has been named Chief Executive Officer for Junior Golf Corporation – the operating entity for the Hank Haney International Junior Golf Academy (Hank Haney IJGA), the International Junior Golf Tour (IJGT), and Heritage Academy.
Orrell joins Junior Golf Corporation after serving in a number of executive and strategic roles for American Express Company. He brings deep international, general management and brand expertise to JGC and has an exceptional track record of building business alliances and driving teams to new levels of success. Orrell served on the Board of Directors of Amex Bank of Canada and was a member of Amex’s International Leadership Team. Most recently, he was a Principal of Summit Consulting Solutions, where he provided consulting services to mid-cap companies in the service industry, with a focus on leadership, strategy and process reengineering.
“Junior Golf Corporation has enormous potential and I look forward to leading our team to unprecedented levels of global success. The opportunities for growth within the United States and key international markets are an exciting challenge,” stated Orrell. “I am very excited and enthusiastic about our brand and our association with Hank Haney. We are well positioned for exceptional success.”
Hank Haney joined the International Junior Golf Academy in 2007 as Director of Instruction. In 2008, his name was added to the organization’s brand due to his increased involvement with the students and instructional practices. Haney’s students have gone on to win every major championship in professional, collegiate, amateur, and junior golf. In 2009, 94% of Hank Haney IJGA graduating students received a college golf scholarship. Currently, Hank Haney IJGA has students from 28 countries around the world.
“I am very pleased to welcome Peter as CEO of Junior Golf Corporation. I know he has a strong passion to help our students reach their full potential. His wealth of experience with Fortune 500 and other top corporations will help to elevate our organization as the #1 brand in junior golf. I am confident his leadership will result in the finest in junior golf training, competition, and academics to our students,” said Haney.
Junior Golf Corporation is owned by The Riverside Company, a global private equity firm which has $2.7 billion in capital under management and counts some of the world’s leading pension funds, insurance companies, banks, endowments and funds of funds as its investors. The Riverside Company acquired Junior Golf Corporation in 2007. Riverside’s investment in the Company is led by Jeff Tobin, Operating Partner.
“We tasked our recruiting company to find a top caliber executive with extensive experience leading a service business and delighting customers. Peter’s accomplishments at American Express are nothing short of extraordinary,” stated Tobin. “We are excited to have Peter join the Junior Golf Corporation and are confident that he will bring leadership, enthusiasm, and passion to a great business.”
Orrell will assume his position with Junior Golf Corporation on May 17th.
About Junior Golf Corporation
Junior Golf Corporation is the operating entity for Hank Haney IJGA, the International Junior Golf Tour (IJGT), and Heritage Academy. Hank Haney International Junior Golf Academy (Hank Haney IJGA) is a full-time junior golf boarding school and offers a variety of other golf training programs. Hank Haney IJGA is the only academy in the world to combine training, academics, and competition for serious junior golfers. Hank Haney and his elite teaching and coaching team train junior golfers from 28 countries and 28 states. The International Junior Golf Tour (IJGT) is the only junior golf tour to offer events every weekend throughout the school year, from September until May, totaling in 65 tournaments a year. Heritage Academy is one of the country’s leading private middle and high schools for students pursuing both academic and athletic excellence.
To obtain more information about the Hank Haney IJGA (www.IJGA.com), IJGT (www.IJGT.com), or Heritage Academy (www.HeritageHHI.com), please e-mail info@IJGA.com or call (800) 791-8229.
About The Riverside Company
The Riverside Company is the largest global private equity firm focused on the smaller end of the middle market and is one of the industry’s most experienced leveraged buyout investors. Riverside invests in premier companies valued up to $150 million and partners with strong management teams to build companies through acquisitions and value-added growth. Since its founding in 1988, the firm has invested in 213 transactions with a total enterprise value of $4.7 billion. Riverside’s current portfolio in North America, Europe and Asia consists of 69 companies with combined annual sales of $3.2 billion, EBITDA of $524 million and more than 14,000 employees. Riverside offers certainty to close and can complete acquisitions in as little as 45 days, thanks to its $2.7 billion of capital under management, over 180 professionals in 18 offices and long-standing relationships with partner lenders.
Contact:
Glenn Gray
Marketing and Sponsorship Coordinator
Junior Golf Corporation
843-686-1526
GlennG@ijga.com
Mary Beth Lacy
Mary Beth Lacy, Inc. Public Relations
(760) 346-6942
mb@mblacy.com
