Leading business advisor John Ashworth is the new chairman of Golf Business International following the organisation’s annual general meeting. He replaces Howard Swan who has stepped down after five years as chairman and nine as a member, but is being retained in the position of Executive Officer.
Ashworth, the principal of John Ashworth Associates, now heads the board, which retains health and safety expert Tom Searle as a member. They are joined by two new board members: human resources specialist Carolyne Wahlen, and property expert Mark Smith.
They are to be supplemented by two co-opted board members: David Withers, managing director of ISEKI UK & Ireland, will be the corporate partners’ representative, while Golf Business International member Stefano Boni, consulting agronomist and ecology officer for the Italian Golf Federation, will join in order to provide a true international perspective.
Golf course architect Swan will now be retained by the group as Executive Officer, a role which will see him act as liaison with members, corporate partners and England Golf – for whom Golf Business International is a preferred partner – while monitoring and administrating enquiries and the group’s financial affairs.
Ashworth said: “Howard has been an immense force for good in Golf Business International – and in its previous incarnation as the Golf Consultants Association – and it is an honour to be asked to pick up the mantle in his stead. We are all grateful for his service and delighted he has agreed to stay on in an executive capacity.
“Our membership continues to attract new skill sets and enquiries are also on the increase. It’s a very exciting time for me to take on the chairmanship and I thank the membership for the faith they’ve shown in me.”
Formed originally as the Golf Consultants Association in 1999, Golf Business International, which rebranded in 2017 and is now a ‘preferred partner’ of England Golf, is unique in its ability to make available a team of highly respected and experienced golf industry professionals to deal with any aspect of the business of golf through from conception to end.
Golf Business International www.golfbusinessinternational.com