Titleist has appointed Gareth Cooper as Sales Director for the UK and Ireland, with the experienced commercial leader pledging to work closely with the leading golf equipment brand’s retail partners to help them grow their businesses.
Cooper joins Titleist with extensive commercial leadership experience, including 14 years at Diageo in roles spanning sales, customer development and field operations. He takes up the position as part of an established leadership structure, with Michael Creighton continuing as Brand Director and Spencer Manning as Head of Field Sales.
Cooper began his career teaching Golf and Business Management, an experience which helped develop his approach to leadership and team development, before making the move into the commercial sector.
“I’ve been fortunate enough throughout my career to build it around two things I love: people and performance,” Cooper said. “I started my career teaching Golf and Business Management, where I developed an appreciation for the impact that coaching, leadership and clear direction can have on helping people reach their potential.”
During his 14 years with Diageo, Cooper led teams, worked with some of the UK’s largest customers and helped drive growth across different channels and markets.
“Whilst the roles evolved, the principles remained the same: invest in people, build strong partnerships and stay relentlessly focused on delivering results,” he said. “Looking back, the industries may have changed, but the things that motivate me haven’t. I still get the most satisfaction from developing people, helping teams achieve more than they thought possible and building partnerships that create long-term value for everyone involved.”
Cooper said the opportunity to bring his commercial experience into the golf industry with Titleist was a major attraction in applying for the role.
“Titleist is a brand I have always admired,” he said. “It has earned its reputation through product quality, innovation and a deep understanding of golfers. That level of trust does not happen by accident and it is something I feel very proud to now be part of.”
He added: “The role also brought together two worlds that have shaped my career. My professional experience has been built in commercial leadership, but golf has always been a genuine passion. The opportunity to combine those two things with one of the most respected brands in sport was incredibly exciting.”
Central to Cooper’s plans will be maintaining and developing Titleist’s relationships with golf retailers across the UK and Ireland.
“Retailers play such an important role in the game, and I see our role as helping them succeed, not simply supplying them with products,” he said.
Cooper believes this approach has become increasingly important as the golf retail sector evolves and businesses face changing consumer demands.
“The UK golf market is competitive and continues to evolve,” he said. “Golfers have high expectations, retailers are running increasingly complex businesses, and strong partnerships matter more than ever. For me, this role is about making sure we continue to earn the trust of our partners every day. That means listening properly, understanding their businesses, supporting them with great products, insight, service and fitting expertise, and working together to unlock growth.
“My ambition is simple: when retailers think about the companies they choose to work with, I want Titleist to be the partner they trust most and value most.”
While Cooper is keen to identify opportunities for further growth, he stressed that retailers should not expect a fundamental change in Titleist’s approach to the market.
“The foundations of Titleist will not change,” he said. “Retailers should continue to expect the same commitment to quality, product excellence and service that the brand is known for.”
However, Cooper intends to make direct engagement with the company’s retail network a priority.
“What they can expect from me personally is that I will be accessible and keen to listen,” he said. “I want to spend time with our partners, understand what is working well, where we can improve and how we can make it easier for them to grow their Titleist business.
“I have always believed the best partnerships are built on trust, honesty and a shared ambition to succeed. If we help our retailers grow their business and support more golfers in finding the right products for their game, then we will grow too.”
Since joining Titleist, Cooper has spent time with colleagues in the UK and US as well as visiting customers and retailers.
“What has stood out most is the pride people have in the brand,” he said. “There is a real passion for the game, for the products and for helping golfers perform at their best.”
Looking ahead, Cooper sees significant opportunities for Titleist to build on its existing strengths through product innovation, service, fitting and closer collaboration with retailers.
“The game continues to evolve, golfers’ expectations continue to rise and retailers are looking for partners who can help them grow in a sustainable and profitable way,” he said. “We have outstanding products, talented people and strong relationships across the industry. My focus is on building on those strengths and working alongside our teams and retail partners to keep improving every day. Ultimately, if our retailers are growing, golfers are having great experiences and people see Titleist as a partner they can trust, then we will be doing the right things.”