November 15, 2010;Tokyo, Japan — John K. Solheim, son of PING Chairman John A. Solheim and grandson of PING founder Karsten Solheim, was appointed President & Representative Director of PING Golf Japan effective January 1, 2011, the company announced today.
In his new position, Solheim, 36, will lead all aspects of PING’s business in Japan, including operations, sales and marketing. He’ll also have additional responsibilities for the company’s activities throughout Asia. The father of four has been PING’s Vice President of Engineering since 2001. In that role, he oversaw all product development while managing a team of 60 engineers and research specialists. He’ll be formally introduced to the Japanese golf market during a press conference in early January.
PING Golf Japan was established as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Karsten Manufacturing Corporation in 2004 to provide a facility dedicated to assembling and calibrating custom-fit, custom-built golf equipment for the Japanese and Asian markets. The company, located in Tokyo, employs 75 workers who service the needs of Japan and several other Asian countries, including South Korea. Prior to the formation of PING Golf Japan, the company operated through a variety of Japan-based independent distributors.
“Our business in Japan dates back to the mid-1960s,” said John A. Solheim, who first visited the country in 1969 while working for his father. “It’s been a very important market for us and one that presents exciting opportunities for growth. The decision to appoint John K. was made with great confidence in his ability, along with a feeling of fatherly pride. He’s aspired to a role like this for the last few years. It’s a natural next step in his development. I’m excited to see the impact he’ll have as PING elevates its presence in Japan and throughout Asia.”
John K., the oldest of John A.’s three sons, first worked for PING as a high school student in the company’s engineering department. Among his roles was working side-by-side with his grandfather, Karsten Solheim. During that apprenticeship he witnessed the transition of the golf club design process from the drafting board to the computer age. As developments in technology transformed club design from the hands-on, keen-eye craftsmanship that was the genius of Karsten, into the advanced design tools of today, John K. gained an appreciation for the business that no textbook could ever provide.
Armed with that experience and knowledge, he attended Oklahoma State University before transferring to Arizona State University (ASU), where he graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1996. Four years later he returned to ASU to earn an Executive MBA.
“I’m excited to take on this new challenge,” said John K., whose appointment marks the first time a member of the Solheim family’s third generation has assumed the top leadership role at one of its companies. “I’ve been preparing most of my work life for an opportunity like this. The Japanese golf market is very different from the U.S. market. I’m looking forward to gaining a better understanding of it while focusing on ways to grow our presence. Our reputation for bringing performance-driven technology presents us a tremendous opportunity to further elevate the PING brand in a region that places a premium on innovation.”
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