Callaway Golf Company (NYSE:ELY) this morning announced the promotion of Neil Howie to the position of Managing Director, Callaway Golf Europe, Ltd., replacing Patrice Hutin who was promoted to Callaway Golf Executive Vice President of Global Sales & Advertising in September 2002.
Neil Howie, an experienced and highly regarded golf industry veteran who has been with Callaway Golf Europe Ltd. for the past four years, was most recently the European sales director of the company. He will assume his new duties immediately, reporting directly to Mr Hutin. In his new role, Neil Howie will be responsible for all operations in Callaway Golf Europe, Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Callaway Golf with 200 employees serving 16 countries.
“Neil is a very experienced and savvy sales leader who will provide excellent leadership in this executive role,” said Ron Drapeau, chairman, president and CEO of Callaway Golf. “Because of the many strong customer relationships he has built throughout Europe over the years, we believe he will be extremely effective in building on the successes that Callaway Golf has enjoyed in Europe under Patrice’s leadership.”
Said Patrice Hutin, “The appointment of Neil will provide strong continuity, both in our European subsidiary’s external dealings with customers and in its internal operations. We are very fortunate to be able to promote such a high calibre individual from within the company, and we are pleased to add him to our global management team.”
Prior to joining Callaway Golf Europe, Ltd., in 1998 as brand manager for the Company’s putter division, Odyssey Golf, Neil Howie was European product manager for TaylorMade (GB) Ltd., and UK sales manager for TaylorMade (GB), Ltd., until 1994. He left TaylorMade in 1994 to become managing director of Rogue Golf Company Ltd. and Golf Products Ltd. for four years.
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