American Golf names new CEO
The chief executive of American Golf has left amid a board room shake up by its private equity backer, Endless.
Gary Favell had served in the role since October 2018, having previously been CEO at Bathstore from 2012. He he will take on the same role at Lights4fun in Harrogate
Former Matalan interim CEO Nigel Oddy is to succeed Favell at American Golf. Oddy will step down Matalan at the end of March after six months. His departure comes after Matalan’s new owners announced a new chairman and chief executive yesterday.
Mr Oddy has previously held senior roles with The Range, House of Fraser, and Marks & Spencer.
He said: “I am very excited to join the team at ILG and have been a customer of American Golf for many years. I have watched the progress of the company as an omnichannel golf retailer since Endless LLP acquired the company in 2018, and the new store concept is best in class in the UK and European golf retail.
“Additionally, it has a market leading position in Custom Fit golf clubs, a portfolio of wholly owned brands, and is developing multi-dimensional golf leisure sites.
“This is a group incredibly well positioned to maximise the opportunity created by the explosion of golf participation over the last three years.”
According to filings with Companies House for its holding company, International Leisure Group, Endless partner James Woolley has been appointed as a director.
At the same time, fellow Endless partners Richard Harrison and Tom Jack have stepped down.
The rest of the board includes Chairman Richard Cotter, Chief Financial Offer Simon Owers, Chief Commercial Officer Stuart Middlemiss, and Marketing Director Scott Taylor.
