Golfing Internet retailer EighteenGlobal has announced the appointment of sports entrepreneur John Simpson as non-executive director. EighteenGlobal enables golfers to buy a wide range of golf-related products and travel on the Internet.
The company was registered as a Delaware, US company in October 1999. All the shares of the investors, founders, golf clubs, club professionals, golf unions and PGAs that are partners of EighteenGlobal are held in that company.
EighteenGlobal Inc owns 100% of two subsidiaries: EighteenGlobal PLC in the United Kingdom and EighteenGlobal (Pty) Limited.
John Simpson pioneered the expansion of IMG, Mark McCormack’s sports management company into Europe. From its beginnings in the late 70s he laid the foundations of a star-studded golf division whose first clients included Ian Woosnam, Bernhard Langer, Nick Price, Vijay Singh and Greg Norman. Outside of golf John Simpson managed Sebastian Coe throughout his running career. By the end of his 18-year association with IMG John Simpson was senior international vice-president.
He left IMG in 1997 to create John Simpson Associates and in April this year he merged with his former IMG colleague John Webber to form the golf division of CSS Stellar plc, with Nick Faldo as Simpson’s pioneer client of the new venture.
“I am delighted to be joining EighteenGlobal as non-executive director,” said Simpson. “Their unique business approach, focused on giving back to the golf community, will help grow the future of the sport. Personally I am excited to participate in a company that can have such a huge impact on golf.”
The CEO of EighteenGlobal, Ian James, said that having Simpson join the company was of enormous value. “He’s one of the great names in the golf business and an example to all golfers, whether amateur or pro, of sheer professionalism in the game. John understands that by sharing our profits and the ownership of our company with the golf community, we are using e-commerce to give back to the sport and achieve our overall objective of growing the game of golf. John will play a vital role in helping us to accomplish our mission.”