Golfsmith International announced that Sue Gove has been named president and CEO. Gove, formerly president and COO of the combined Golfsmith and Golf Town business, has also served as the chief integration officer leading the Golfsmith-Golf Town combination, which was finalized this past July.
Marty Hanaka, the previous CEO, will serve in an advisory role through the end of this year. Hanaka has been with Golfsmith since 2007 and has led the company through a major growth period and the Golfsmith-Golf Town combination.
“We’re thankful to Marty for his strong leadership over the years. He has been a wonderful asset to the company and we wish him all the best in the future,” said Don Morrison, board member and Senior Managing Director of OMERS Private Equity.
“With Sue Gove's leadership, and her team now in place, we are well equipped to achieve the goals of the combination and take the business into the future,” added Morrison.
Since joining Golfsmith International in September 2008 as Chief Operating Officer, Ms. Gove has been instrumental in improving Golfsmith’s operations in the areas of store productivity, supply chain management, distribution, finance, and information technology. Ms. Gove has positioned Golfsmith International for growth in both its retail and online platforms.
“Golfsmith International is changing the face of golf. Our business is stronger, larger, and well-positioned to meet the needs of golfers throughout North America,” said Gove. “We remain committed to exceeding customer expectations while keeping our passion for golf and the customers we serve at the center of all we do.”
Prior to joining Golfsmith, Gove was an independent consultant, serving clients in specialty retail and private equity. Previously, she was Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Zale Corporation from 2002 to March 2006, and a director of Zale Corporation from 2004 to 2006. Gove has also been a member of the Board of Directors of Autozone, Inc. since 2005.
