The first wave of speakers has been announced today for the 2014 HSBC Golf Business Forum. The list includes a host of influential names from inside and outside of the golf world, reflecting the forum’s position as one of the most anticipated gatherings in the golf business calendar.
Innovation and fresh thinking have been placed at the heart of the three day conference agenda taking place at The Westin Abu Dhabi Golf Resort & Spa, Abu Dhabi, from 28th – 30th April.
Specialists with expert knowledge and insight will debate how the game will evolve in the 21st Century. A mix of panels, key note presentations and thought leadership sessions will explore topics including the role of next generation digital technology within the golf industry, the influence of data analytics on performance and changing customer behavior. Delegates will also be presented to the very latest trends and research findings relating to global golf development, along with interactive debates including industry powerbrokers and innovators.
The event has been running since 2004 and attracts more than 250 golf industry delegates each year ranging from industry leaders to developers, investors and journalists from more than 40 countries.
Confirmed speakers include:
Barney Francis, Managing Director, Sky Sports
Stephen Nuttall, Senior Director, Sports, YouTube EMEA
Dr Geoff McGrath, Managing Director, McLaren Applied Technologies
Giles Morgan, Global Head of Sponsorship and Events, HSBC
Antony Scanlon, Executive Director, International Golf Federation
Dana Garmany, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Troon
Ed Smith, Leader Writer, The Times, Author of ‘Luck’
Andrea Sartori, Head of Golf Advisory Practice, KPMG
Thimon De Jong, Founder, Trend Interpretation Agency, Whetstone
Christian Purslow, Founding Partner, Mid Ocean Partners
Andrew Cotter, Golf Commentator, BBC Sport
Joe Beditz, CEO, National Golf Foundation
Guy Kinnings, Global Head of Golf, IMG
Peter Walton, Chief Executive, IAGTO
Imtiaz Patel, Group CEO Multichoice South Africa, Supersport
Rupert Hampel, SVP Head of IMG Media, Golf
Clair Peterson, PGA Tournament Director, John Deere Classic
Arto Joensuu, CEO, Dubizzle
Eric Brown, Global Turf Business Manager, Syngenta
Commenting on the initial speaker line up, HSBC Global Head of Sponsorship and Events, Giles Morgan, said, “The Golf Business Forum is an extension of our sponsorship portfolio from major golf championships to grassroots programs around the world and now supporting business in the golf industry. As a long standing international sponsor of the sport our ambition is to open up the world of golf and sponsorship of this event is an ideal platform to do that. This is a very impressive list of speakers and I, for one, will be fascinated by what they will have to say on their specialist subjects. This year’s agenda really does offer a wonderful mix of topics and discussion points and I believe it will be a compelling three days in Abu Dhabi. ”
Guy Kinnings, Global Head of Golf, IMG, said, “We are eight weeks away from hosting our first Golf Business Forum and we are delighted by the response of the industry as a whole regarding the direction in which the event is evolving. HSBC’s support is of course invaluable, as is the support and interest of so many leading personalities in the golf world.”
For further details and enquiries associated to attendance, engagement and brand exposure with the HSBC Golf Business Forum or Community, please contact – nicholas.oakley@img.com
HSBC Golf Business Forum www.golfbusinessforum.com