Acushnet Company, who market and distribute golf equipment under the Titleist, FootJoy, Cobra and Pinnacle brand names is the biggest golf equipment company in the world and has consistently held a market leading position throughout the past 25 years.
In Europe, one man has been at the helm throughout this period. Graham Guy is Acushnet’s Senior Vice President International and Managing Director for Acushnet Europe and his current VP role gives him responsibility for all markets outside the US including Canada, Europe, Africa, Middle East, Pac Rim, Australasia and Japan.
Graham, who joined Acushnet in 1977 as financial director from electronics giant Philips, has had ultimate responsibility for many key developments in the last quarter of a century. The company’s workforce has more than doubled and European turnover has grown from £1.5 million in 1977 to a figure in excess of £80 million in 2001.
Graham Guy identifies the following highlights as significant developments for Acushnet in Europe over the last 25 years:
Setting up Continental company operations in the early 1990’s gave Acushnet a distinct competitive advantage over other manufacturers unwilling to invest in the European and South African golf markets
The opening of a new warehouse in 1991 and its further expansion in 1997, with three shift operations, enabled the company to remain unchallenged in customer service. No other company has come close to achieving this level of service over a long period, as supported by SMS independent surveys over the last decade or so.
The ‘in house’ ball printing facility that opened in 1981 enabled Acushnet to offer unparalleled turnaround times and quality to the logo printed golf ball market.
The move from Great Shelford, Cambridge to the present site in St Ives in 1987 and the establishment of full club assembly operations from 1990.
The launch of the Pinnacle golf ball in the early 1980’s created tremendous growth similar to the Pro V1 sensation in the last 2 years.
Overseeing some of the best-known brands in golf has been a source of great pride for Graham Guy. “I am extremely honoured to have been able to work with some fantastic products and exceptional people in my time at Acushnet and I am looking forward to many more years of growth for all the brands under the Acushnet umbrella” he commented.
Acushnet www.acushnetcompany.com