The PGA has put in place a re-organisation of its management structure, which will strengthen the Association both from the point of view of services to the membership and also in the Association’s dealings with the world of golf as a whole.
Sandy Jones, Chief Executive of the PGA, said, “The changes have been instigated with a view to in creasing the support we provide for members and building on our commercial activities to maintain our financial stability. This is to ensure that the Association is ‘fit for purpose’ moving forward.
“In order to allow us to support our membership programmes and develop them further, whether it be training, membership services, tournaments, communication or any other aspect of the golfing business, then we need a substantial commercial operation sitting beside and running in parallel with our membership operation.
“It would be easy to focus too much on producing bottom line profit and forget our purpose in life. That is why, after long and considerable discussions at all levels of the Association, we have now announced our restructure and this will ensure that the organisation grows and provides even greater levels of support to the membership and at the same time finds the necessary income sources to sustain these programmes.
“You will see changes encompassing both our experienced staff and also our younger staff who have gained valuable knowledge in recent years with us and are ready to take on new responsibilities. I can assure all members that this Association is going forward and will continue to provide benefit and support to all members in whatever they do.”
The appointments and responsibilities are as follows:
Executive Department
Maureen Roberts – Executive Assistant to the Chief Executive
Acting as assistant to the Chief Executive in all areas of the Association’s administration and management. Will represent the Chief Executive at PGA events, the Golf Foundation and be an important link in all matters relating to ladies’ golf.
Jim Croxton – Sponsorship Manager
Jim has moved from the North Region to Headquarters and will have overall strategic responsibility for the sponsorship of tournaments for the Association: specifically all national events and Order of Merit events at regional level. He will also have responsibility for the development of PGA Corporate Golf.
He will provide a link between tournament activity and the Association’s other commercial and web site activities.
Laraine Beeching – PA to Chief Executive and Sponsorship Manager
Laraine has moved from the Commercial Department to take up this role and will work Monday to Wednesday inclusive. She will assist both the Chief Executive as PA and work with Jim Croxton on the development of sponsorship strategies.
Lynn Chambers – PA to Chief Executive
Lynn has been promoted to PA to Chief Executive and will continue to work Wednesday to Friday.
David Wright – Director of Regions & Heritage
David has relinquished responsibility for the management of the Membership Department, disciplinaries and the Constitution and Regulations.
The Regions have been split and David is responsible for the South, East and Midlands in addition to the Member Support Programme (Pastoral Programme) in those regions.
An important part of his new role will be to promote the prominence of the Association and its heritage within the world of golf.
He will continue to manage the Benevolent Fund, sit on the Golf Forum and act in an ambassadorial role representing the Association at home and abroad.
Norman Fletcher – Director of Regions & External Relations
Norman will manage Ireland, Scotland, West and North regions and take responsibility for the Member Support Programme in those regions.
Norman’s focus will be to act as the Association’s link to Government through representation on various bodies such as the Central Council of Physical Recreation, the Institute of Professional Sport, County Partnerships etc. He will continue to act as the PGA’s expert witness and will represent the Association on the PGA’s of Europe board, the Golf Foundation and the Golf Forum.
Norman will be based in the North Region office.
Commercial Department
Mike Gray left the Association on 31 December 2006. His company, Communiq8 Ltd. will provide services to the Association specifically relating to the PGA brand, electronic communication and licensing.
Nat Sylvester has been appointed as Head of Media with responsibility for all media and publications including the PGA website, which will continue to be managed by Kelly Lewis.
HR Department
Diane Flint – Director of HR
Additional responsibilities on compliance (Child Protection, Equity etc.)
Kathy Hughes –
promoted to HR Manager
Julie Rawes –
new position – Travel & HR Administrator
Tournament Department
Steve Cox – Director of Golf
Steve will have overall responsibility for the Tournament Department, including Corporate Golf and the staging of all national events, including the PGA Europro Tour. He will work closely with the Sponsorship Manager to develop appropriate sponsorship links for his department’s events.
He is also tasked with developing closer links with regional tournament staff and establishing national standards for all PGA events.
The department will continue to support the Training & Education Department on the Foundation Degree and CPD programmes.
Membership Department
Lorrie Hamer – Head of Membership Operations
Lorrie is moving from the Executive office into this new role. She will have responsibility for the day to day management of the department and the maintenance of the Association’s Constitution and Regulations. In addition she will be responsible for organising national meetings including the AGM and regional AGMs and disciplinary and other regulation related committees.
Lorrie will continue to act as Secretary to the Board and Executive Committee meetings.
She has been tasked with further developing a range of services and benefits for the membership.
Regions
North Region – Roger Butler has been appointed Regional Secretary.
Scottish Region – Gordon Dewar has taken over as Regional Secretary from Peter Lloyd who retired on 31st December 2006. Peter will return in February in a part time capacity to carry out membership support visits in Scotland as part of the Membership Support Programme.
Midland Region – Graham Maly is already in situ as Regional Secretary.
South Region – Jon Sewell is already in situ as Regional Secretary.
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