Italian golf shoe brand Duca del Cosma has appointed Honorata Nel as its new Global Marketing Director.
Nel, originally from South Africa, joins the Amsterdam-based company having worked on three continents during her 15-year career in marketing, with spells in Johannesburg, Cape Town, New York and London.
Most recently, she spent five years as Director of Marketing at the New York Runners – the non-profit organisation that puts on the annual New York City Marathon – where she directed brand, partnership and community portfolios.
Before moving to the US, Nel taught marketing at South Africa’s University of Cape and sports marketing at The Cape Peninsula University of Technology. During the decade prior to that, she ran her own business, acting as a marketing consultant for clients in the B2B, sport and tech industries and founding a small start-up called Soccermom. As an accomplished amateur athlete, she won her national pole-vaulting championship.
“It’s very exciting for me to join such an innovative, daring and different brand as Duca del Cosma,” said Nel, whose role covers all marketing and e-commerce activities across the world. “I grew up with the Hi-Tec brand in South Africa, and when I heard that its founder Frank van Wezel was now building another shoe brand, I got very excited. I love working in sport and like a challenge where I can contribute to the growth of a brand.
“Duca del Cosma is uniquely positioned in the market, offering a stylish performance shoe like no other. No compromise is made on technology or innovation and the Italian design makes it very special. The potential for growth is exponential, especially in new markets such as Asia and the US.
“Growth within our core markets is also strong as we continue to build on our existing values and gain awareness. I am also particularly excited about the increased sustainability efforts of the brand as well as new and exciting innovations in the future, and the growth of e-commerce,” she added.
Sjef van Gastel, CEO of Duca del Cosma, commented: “Honorata brings extensive marketing skills to our business and is a great addition to the management team we’ve assembled at the company HQ in Amsterdam. Her recent experience of working in the US is especially valuable, as we launched the brand into the world’s biggest golf market earlier this year and are looking to establish ourselves among the industry’s leading players from our showroom in North Palm Beach, Florida and distribution centre in Atlanta.”