Doug Fonte is retiring from Prince Sports Inc…again. Fonte left retirement in 2005 to run Prince's U.S. tennis business. A year later, he took on responsibilities in Canada and Latin America. Prince announced Wednesday that he is retiring as President-Prince Americas effective May. 1.
“This time it's permanent” Fonte said. “Getting back in the tennis industry, contributing to the revival of Prince, working with George Napier (the Prince Chairman and CEO) and the terrific Prince team over the past three years has been a lot of fun and very rewarding, but now is the right time to let a younger generation take the company to the next level. Our brand is in great shape, we have several exciting new products and growth initiatives, either in the pipeline or underway, and the team is fully engaged.”
Commenting on Doug's retirement, and the future, Napier said “Doug's a strong competitor, a clear thinker, and a good friend. Working with him the past three years has been really good for our team and a privilege for me. Although Doug is leaving his management role, he will stay connected to Prince as a consultant – through 2009 – and as a Prince ambassador to several organizations including the Arthur Ashe Youth Tennis and Education Center (AAYTE) in Philadelphia and the International Tennis Hall of Fame.”
Napier went on to thank Fonte for his contributions and leadership and wished him much happiness in retirement. “I'm expecting to get a few more strokes when we play golf,” Napier said.
Napier said he expects to eventually fill Fonte's post.
