John R. Embree, Vice President of Sales for Wilson Golf and Racquet Sports, has resigned from Wilson today after 17 years with the company.

Rick Kerpsack, previously Business Director of Tennis Balls, will advance to the Vice President of Sales position left by Embree. Kerpsack’s promotion comes after 12 years with Wilson, where he began on the sales side as a Southeast Regional Sales Manager. Kerpsack was Director of the Wilson Interactive Marketing group and served as Business Director of Footwear from 1996 – 2000. Reporting to Kerpsack will be the National Sales Managers for both Racquet Sports Sales and Pro Golf Sales.

Embree came to Wilson Racquet Sports in 1986 as Director of Promotions. He handled the touring professionals around the world. Four years later, Embree became the Business Director of Tennis Balls. From 1994 – 1996, Embree served as the Business Director of Performance Racquets and in 1996, was appointed Vice President/General Manager.


Wilson thanks John Embree for his passion and dedication to Wilson and the game, and wishes him well in all his future endeavors.


Promoted from Amer Sports France, Antoine Ballon will be relocating to Chicago to serve as Marketing Director, Global Racquets, a position left vacant when Brian Dillman was promoted to Vice President Global Marketing in April, and Ballon will manage International Tennis Balls as well. Ballon is currently Marketing Director for Atomic, France and will be moving with his wife and three children to begin at Wilson’s corporate headquarters on January 2nd.

Ballon, an accomplished tennis player, has been in the tennis industry for many years. He spent eight years at Head/Penn Racquet Sports France as a product manager, before moving on to Amer Sports where he has been for three years.

Managing the Tennis Ball category domestically will be Tom Odishoo. Odishoo will also continue as the Marketing Director for Pre-Strung Tennis and Consumer Marketing and has been with Wilson for 10 years.

In Technology and R&D, Wilson has hired two new Principal Engineers. Dan Hernandez, who spent 10 years an engineer with GE will be working in the Performance Racquet category, and Martin Bunzendahl will join the Tennis Ball group.