Slinger Bag, a manufacturer of game improvement equipment for ball sports, today announced its expansion into Canada with the appointment of Doug Coombs as director of business development, effective immediately. Coombs brings over 30 years of experience in business development in the Canadian sports market and is responsible for building its direct-to-consumer channel distribution, operations and finance, player relations, marketing, and grassroots initiatives.
With an initial focus on the tennis market, Slinger Bag developed a portable tennis ball launcher for players of all abilities, offering a 24/7 training partner.
“The arrival of the new Slinger Bag now to Canada is incredibly exciting for Canadian tennis players,” said Coombs. “The growth of tennis is on the upswing generating enthusiasm with all Canadian tennis players especially in light of the recent success of young Canadian professional players on the men’s ATP and WTA tours. From winning the U.S. Open to reaching the Davis Cup finals, the Canadian tennis market is clearly on the upswing.”
Most recently, Coombs was the national sales/commercial manager for Racket Sports Canada for Wilson Sporting Goods leading Wilson to the number one market position in tennis in performance rackets and tennis balls. In addition, he established grassroots programs supporting many of Canada’s top professional tennis players.
“Doug’s industry expertise and key relationships with tennis governing bodies and organizations will be invaluable to Slinger Bag as we expand into this key international market,” said Mike Ballardie, CEO of Slinger Bag. “He knows the tennis market inside and out, and as we navigate this new normal, Doug’s leadership skills will reinforce the fact that Slinger Bag not only keeps tennis enthusiasts engaged with their passion but also is especially suited for today’s times. His proven ability to grow businesses is a key asset for Slinger Bag and we look forward to having him be part of the team.”
“As a tennis player, former coach and industry veteran I am excited to join the Slinger team,” continued Coombs. “The breadth of the management team’s industry experience and the Slinger Bag’s potential to transform the tennis industry positions the company for significant growth. I look forward to leveraging my knowledge of Canadian tennis to help expand Slinger’s global footprint in this vital market.”
The Slinger Bag Canada business will be operated by Slinger bag’s Canadian subsidiary with customer service and support located in Belleville, Ontario.
