Former World Sport Group vice president to spearhead global expansion plans
(HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C.) – Junior Sports Corporation – owner/operator of Hank Haney International Junior Golf Academy, International Junior Golf Tour and Ivan Lendl International Junior Tennis Academy – announces Raymond Roessel as Executive Director of Asia.
A permanent resident of Hong Kong, Roessel first moved to Asia in 1997 to work as a PGA Professional at Mission Hills Golf Club in Shenzhen, China. He most recently served as Vice President, Golf East Asia for World Sport Group. He has executed events in more than 60 countries during his career, partnering with companies like UBS, HSBC, FedEx, Deutsche Bank, Merrill Lynch and JP Morgan, as well as the China Golf Association, Omega China Tour and Japan Tour.
Other accomplishments during his 15-year golf and marketing career include founding Infinite Ideas International, an event management firm, and launching a GolfTEC franchise.
As Executive Director of Asia, Roessel will work closely with Peter Orrell, Chief Executive Officer of Junior Sports Corporation, to develop and implement strategic plans for growing junior golf and tennis with region-specific training programs and increased competition opportunities.
“Leading the charge for Junior Sports Corporation in Asia is a challenging but exciting mission,” says Roessel. “There is an incredible passion for junior golf and tennis in this part of the world and we look forward to providing the finest in training and competition.”
Last year, Junior Sports Corporation launched the Hank Haney International Junior Golf Tour – Asian Circuit (www.IJGTAsia.com), with seven events in six countries including China, India, Japan, Philippines, Thailand and South Korea. In late 2011 and 2012, Roessel will lead expansion to 40 events in 13 countries.
“Hank Haney IJGA is experiencing record international growth at the Hilton Head Island campus with 25 percent Asian enrollment,” says Orrell. “Ray has a wealth of experience in the golf industry and event management to help grow our business exponentially.”
Roessel understands the regional market landscape through his role as founder and managing director of Infinite Ideas International, where he has managed more than 80 Asian events. At World Sport Group, he helped secure multi-million annual sponsorships and produced 150 days of televised sporting competition.
Roessel, who speaks English and Mandarin, holds a Joint Executive Master of Business Administration from Northwestern University and Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. He is a graduate of Mississippi State University, majoring in Professional Golf Management, and has been a Class A member of the PGA of America since 1998.
For more information about Junior Sports Corporation and its companies: www.ijga.com, info@IJGA.com, 800.791.8229.
About Junior Sports Corporation
Located on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, JSC owns and operates:
Hank Haney International Junior Golf Academy (www.IJGA.com) is the world’s only academy to combine training, competition and academics for serious junior golfers. Director of Instruction Hank Haney – coach to winners of every major championship on the PGA Tour – and his elite staff train junior golfers from more than 25 countries and 45 states.
The International Junior Golf Tour (www.IJGT.com) hosts 60 tournaments annually and is the only junior golf tour with events every weekend during the September-to-May school year.
Established in May 2011, the Ivan Lendl Junior Tennis Academy (www.LendlTennis.com) produces the finest tennis training and competition for junior students to ultimately reach the college or professional ranks. Ivan Lendl, former World No. 1 player and winner of eight Grand Slam singles titles, serves as Director of Instruction and is dedicated to the development of each junior tennis player.
Heritage Academy (www.HeritageHHI.com) provides progressive, diverse academic instruction for students from grades five to 12 who pursue extra-curricular passions, such as golf at Hank Haney IJGA and tennis at Ivan Lendl IJTA.
Hilton Head Island is easily accessible by most major airlines through Hilton Head Island (HHI), Savannah (SAV), Charleston (CHS) and Columbia (CAE) airports.
Contact:
Glenn Gray
Buffalo Communications
703.891.3511
ggray@buffalocommunications.com
Shane Sharp
Buffalo Communications
704.519.8381
ssharp@buffalocommunications.com
