Lagardère Unlimited has acquired golf player representation firm Crown Sports Management and hired Jay Danzi, agent to rising star Jordan Spieth. Crown Sports Management and Danzi bring with them 24 PGA Tour players and will increase Lagardère Unlimited's PGA Tour client list to 43 players. Additionally, Lagardère Unlimited has hired experienced execs Charley Moore, who will be charged with building a corporate consulting practice in North America, and Roddy Carr, a Dublin-based golf exec who is expected to grow the golf marketing and consulting business in Europe and Asia. Crown Sport Management is run by CEO Mac Barnhardt and President Jimmy Johnston, and represents about 30 golfers. All will report to Andy Pierce, who was named President & CEO of Lagardère Unlimited in August. An announcement of the acquisition and the hires is expected later today. Lagardère Unlimited already had a presence in golf, as it acquired the former Gaylord Sports Management last year, but the latest acquisitions and hires will establish the company, which is owned by Paris-based Lagardère Group, as a leader in golf globally. Lagardère Unlimited now represents three of the last seven PGA Tour Rookies of the Year: Spieth ('13), Keegan Bradley ('11), and Brandt Snedeker ('07). Additionally, Lagardère Unlimited now represents four of the top 20 ranked golfers in the world, with Phil Mickelson joining the aforementioned players. Lagardère Group Chair & CEO Arnaud Lagardère has stated publicly that he intends to grow the sports practice. “I’m very supportive of Andy’s approach and excited to see the growth of Lagardère Unlimited as a result of these transactions,” Lagardère said in a statement. “Being a global sport, golf is a very strong business driver which enables Lagardère Unlimited to utilize our extensive international reach for the benefit of our clients, businesses and brands.”
