Summit Golf Brands, the performance golf apparel and sportswear manufacturer, has hired Thomas De Stio as chief marketing officer. De Stio will oversee e-commerce and marketing strategy for its B. Draddy, Zero Restriction, Fairway & Greene, and EP New York brands.
The CMO position is a new role within the company’s executive leadership team. Based out of the company’s New York City headquarters, De Stio will report to company President Jack Lessing.
Of the hire, Lessing said, “Thomas has a track record of success everywhere he has been. He drives innovation in digital marketing and growth in e-commerce by putting the customer first. He is joining Summit Golf Brands at a time when we have a lot of momentum, industry-leading product innovation, and compelling stories to tell.” Lessing continued, “Above all, Thomas is a strong culture fit within our organization, where he will lead integral departments of our business.”
De Stio brings over ten years of experience in leadership roles across the digital commerce space, including Tom Ford, Loro Piana, and Gucci. He has overseen the full spectrum of digital business operations, from concept and strategy development to execution and performance analysis. Most recently, he was the head of global digital and e-commerce at LoveShackFancy.
In his new role, De Stio said, “I’m truly excited to join Summit Golf Brands as Chief Marketing Officer. This is an incredible opportunity to contribute to a company with strong momentum and a commitment to innovation and growth. I’m eager to leverage my experience in digital and e-commerce to elevate our brands, enhance our customer experience, and drive our business into the future. I look forward to working closely with the talented team at Summit Golf Brands to build on the success already in place and explore new opportunities for continued growth.”
Adding a CMO role is the latest development in a transformative year for Summit Golf Brands. B. Draddy and Zero Restriction recently released the U.S. and International Team uniforms for the 2024 Presidents Cup; B. Draddy signed on as the official apparel of the Metropolitan (NY) Golf Association and Zero Restriction signed a partnership agreement with the NFL’s New York Giants.
The company’s collegiate license portfolio reportedly spans over 125 colleges and universities, with 31 professional brand ambassadors competing across the PGA, LPGA, Korn Ferry, and Champions Tour. The company also noted that it continues to bolster its operational and service areas, adding employees, products and production timelines.
Images courtesy Summit Golf Brands