Wilson Sporting Goods, Inc. CEO and President John
Riccitiello confirmed to GOLF WEEK that Jan Thompson, former
VP/GM of Wilson's Golf Division, has decided to leave the
company. Wilson has named Kim Ignatius, who led Wilson's
International Markets, as new VP/GM of Global Golf. The company
reportedly offered Thompson another position, "but she declined."
Riccitiello said despite personnel changes, "the company is
committed to the direction it set for itself two years ago."
Wilson hopes to capture some of the "market share that Ping and
others took in the 80's." Riccitiello said the company's focus
on clubs for low handicappers caused them to miss "the
opportunity to take advantage of the boom in game-improvement
equipment." Wilson is planning a new line of "midsize forged
irons" and will introduce the new Invex driver and metalwoods at
the end of the third quarter (Adam Barr, GOLF WEEK, 7/15 issue).
Thompson was selected as one of AD AGE's "Marketing 100."
JUST GRIP IT AND RIP IT: Riccitiello also said the company
is "back to happy" with their endorsement relationship with John
Daly. Thompson had suspended Daly in '94 because of "concerns
that his then-erratic behavior might tarnish Wilson's image."
Riccitiello said Wilson is now looking toward a "long and
mutually profitable relationship with Daly" (GOLF WEEK, 7/15
issue).
