The National Golf Foundation (NGF) added Craig Kessler, PGA of America COO, Geoff Cottrill, Topgolf’s chief brand officer, and Edric Funk, Toro’s VP of golf, grounds, and irrigation, to its Board of Directors, effective January 1, 2024.
“Edric, Craig and Geoff will bring fresh and welcome perspectives to the stellar group of leaders already on the NGF board,” said NGF President and CEO Greg Nathan, who also joined the board in ascending to the CEO role at the start of 2024. “We’re so fortunate to have these individuals as NGF’s business advisors and counselors, and they are doing their industry a great service by representing the interests of the business categories in which their organizations operate.”
Kessler took over as the PGA of America’s COO in 2023, previously working as COO and head of Emerging Concepts at Topgolf from 2016 to 2021. He received an MBA from Harvard Business School and, shortly after, started his career with McKinsey & Company. He became an operating partner at two private equity firms before moving to Topgolf. He also was the CEO of Buff City Soap before joining the PGA of America.
Cottrill, who joined Topgolf in 2021, is responsible for all aspects of global marketing, including brand positioning strategies, communications, advertising, media, creative, player insights, game development, partnerships and charitable giving efforts. Previous roles included head of marketing for Coca-Cola North America and chief marketing officer for Converse.
Cottrill has also held senior marketing positions at Starbucks and Procter & Gamble and was recognized in 2022 on the Forbes “Entrepreneurial CMO” list and in 2023 as Ad Age‘s “Breakout Brand Leader.”
Cottrill became the first industry leader on the NGF board from a company focused on the off-course golf entertainment sector.
Funk is responsible for the overall strategic direction of The Toro Company’s Golf and Grounds Equipment and Irrigation businesses, including Toro, Ventrac, Irritrol, and Unique Lighting Systems brands. He has been with The Toro Company since 1996, starting as a design engineer in Toro’s Landscape Contractor Business.
Funk has held several leadership positions across the company, including general manager of Toro’s Sitework Systems Business, director of The Toro Company’s Center for Technology, Research and Innovation (CTRI), and director of global product management for Commercial and International.
Other members of the NGF Board of Directors include:
- John K. Solheim, president and CEO, PING
- Anne Broholm, CEO, Ahead
- Joe Assell (Secretary/Treasurer), president and CEO, Golftec
- Tim Schantz (Vice-Chairman), president, Troon Golf
- Mike McCarley, founder, TMRW Sports
- Joe Beditz, former president and CEO of NGF, transitioned to executive chairman at the start of 2024 after nearly four decades leading the organization.
Departing the NGF Board of Directors at the end of 2023 following a combined 19 years of service were Hall of Fame golfer Annika Sorenstam, retired Toro executive Brad Hamilton and longtime PGA Tour Superstore CEO Dick Sullivan, Board Chair from 2019 to 2021.
