Nike Golf today announced the appointment of Mike Francis to U.S. general manager and Stan Grissinger to general manager for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) effective by 1st December 2008, according to company president Cindy Davis. Francis will be succeeding Davis, who was recently promoted from US general manager to the position of President, and Grissinger will assume Francis’ role.
Mike Francis is currently Nike Golf’s general manager for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), a position he has held for three years. Prior to his role in Europe, Francis was general manager for Nike Golf Canada, where he was responsible for the initial establishment of Nike Golf business in that region. As Nike Golf’s U.S. general manager, Francis will oversee the U.S. business for Nike Golf, including sales, operations, marketing and sports marketing.
During his tenure as general manager in EMEA, Mike has been highly successful in driving incremental revenues and, at the same time, impressive growth in all product categories. He has overseen the creation of Nike Golf’s dedicated distribution centre, crucial to the future of the business across the region, as well as evolving the way in which the UK sales team operates by creating two focused sales teams – footwear and apparel, clubs and equipment.
“Mike Francis has been an effective leader within Nike Golf and has the ideal skill set and experience to manage Nike Golf’s U.S. business,” said Davis, Nike Golf President. “He has a proven track record in generating incremental revenues in both Europe and Canada, and we look forward to Mike’s continued leadership to drive growth for our U.S. business.”
Francis joined Nike in 2003 from Wilson Golf, where he had risen through various roles from territory sales to merchandising management, marketing, and ultimately sales leadership. He began his 21-year career in the golf industry at Ram Golf, after graduating from Dalhousie University in his native Canada.
Stan Grissinger is succeeding Francis as Nike Golf’s EMEA general manager. Grissinger has been Nike Golf’s category business director for clubs and balls for the past three years. Under Grissinger’s guidance, Nike Golf has expanded its club and ball R&D efforts and product business strategies.
“Stan’s leadership in our club and ball categories has resulted in numerous important product innovations that have further established Nike Golf’s reputation and market share in the highly competitive ball and club business,” said Davis. “He has been integral to the growth of Nike Golf and he will continue to have a positive influence on the business in his new role.”
Prior to his role as category business director for clubs and balls, Grissinger was the category business director for balls for four years after first joining Nike Golf in 1999 as product director for golf balls.
Building on Mike’s success, Stan will take over the reins in EMEA on 1st December with the objectives of driving growth in the club category and expanding full line distribution in authentic golf channels. He will also strive to maintain Nike Golf’s leadership position in the apparel category and build on the momentum Nike is currently seeing in footwear, in turn further accelerating the excellent growth rate the company has achieved to date.
Nike Golf www.nikegolfeurope.com