SHELTON, CONNECTICUT – Golf industry veteran William “Billy” Draddy has been appointed the new Senior Vice President, Creative Director of Fairway & Greene and Zero Restriction, it was announced today by Christopher Heyn, CEO of parent company Summit Golf Brands.
Draddy-who will report directly to Heyn-will take on the responsibility of former Fairway & Greene Vice President, Design Teri Martin Schleifer, who recently resigned.
Draddy brings along an impressive golf business pedigree to Summit Golf Brands-the industry’s leading golf-focused apparel group Draddy’s history of product design and development in both Men’s and Women’s Sportswear is matched by his innovative and quality standards, along with a passion for golf, and sports in general.
Draddy comes to Summit Golf Brands from New York City-based Polo Ralph Lauren, where he had served as Vice President-Golf & Tennis since April 2007. He had directed Polo Ralph Lauren’s golf and tennis divisions’ sales, marketing, merchandising and design departments. The merchandising and design divisions he led included 11 designers and three merchants.
“As Fairway & Greene takes another step in its evolution,” Heyn says, “we are excited to have Billy’s leadership and guidance. His experience in the golf and men’s and women’s sportswear business, along with his design and development vision, make him a perfect fit for our company.”
Draddy began his professional career as a Designer for Joseph Abboud Sportswear at GFT USA, followed by stints as Senior Designer-Men’s Apparel at The Timberland Company; Vice President-Design, Merchandising at Bobby Jones/Hickey Freeman; Vice President-Design for “hickey,” Hickey Freeman’s sub-brand label; and then his most recent position at Polo Ralph Lauren.
“I’m extremely grateful to be part of the Summit Golf Brands family,” says Draddy, who lives in Rye, N.Y. “I’ve always had great respect for both Fairway & Greene and Zero Restriction, so needless to say I’m very excited to be entrusted to help carry on the tradition of excellence for which those companies are so famous.”
Summit Golf Brands was founded in late 2005, and is designed for its brands-Fairway & Greene, EP Pro and Zero Restriction-to play an important role in the lives of all golfers, and enhance and enrich the quality of golfers’ lifestyles, both on and off the course.
Founded in 1995, Fairway & Greene has rapidly grown to become one of the dominant players in the high-end golf apparel market. Each item is fashioned from the finest pure finish fabrics, long since abandoned by other makers due to rarity and cost, and each hand tailored with a care and quality that is uniquely Fairway & Greene. With an unparalleled emphasis on product quality and customer service, Fairway & Greene is specifically positioned to help the PGA Professional enhance their golf shop merchandise offering.
Zero Restriction, is a full-line maker of superior performance outerwear and sportswear for the premium golf market. Using patented design features that deliver guaranteed waterproof, wind protection with complete freedom of movement, ZR is the leading supplier of outerwear on all three major professional tours*. ZR products are sold in the finest golf shops and golf specialty stores in the U.S., Canada and Europe.
EP Pro, the New York City-based premier women’s golf apparel company founded in 1993, has been leading the green-grass and resort industry for more than 10 years, delivering a product line where function meets styling.
Contact:
Mary Beth Lacy at 760-346-6942 or email mb@mblacy.com
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