HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA – September 28, 2012 – Cleveland® Golf/Srixon® has announced that Hideki Sano will be named Chairman of the company, effective January 1, 2013. Sano is filling the vacancy left by former CEO, Greg Hopkins.
Sano joined the Sumitomo Group in 1977 after earning a Master’s degree in Engineering from Osaka University, in Japan. Sano worked his way up the ranks of the Dunlop Sports division, being named Executive Officer of Production Engineering in 2004 and was invited to become a member of the Board of Directors in 2007. Based in Kobe, his most recent role was travelling the world as Executive Director of R&D, Production, Purchasing and Logistics, as well as maintaining his membership on the Board. “I am looking forward to helping guide Cleveland Golf/Srixon to further becoming a globally recognized and trusted company through continuous efforts to enhance our brand values,” said Sano. As Executive Director of Dunlop Sports, he will continue to be responsible for Global R&D, Production, Purchasing, and Global Supply Chain and serve as General Manager of the North American Division.
Yasushi Nojiri, President and Representative Director of Dunlop Sports states, “We are very proud of Cleveland Golf/Srixon and how those brands are enriching the sporting lives of passionate customers with advanced technology. I fully expect that making this organizational change in the North American business unit, with the team being led by Sano, will bring further improvement of the brand value of Cleveland Golf/Srixon.”
For more information on Cleveland® Golf/Srixon®, Never Compromise® and Cleveland Classics™ apparel or their staff players, please visit www.clevelandgolf.com, www.srixon.com, www.nevercompromise.com and www.clevelandclassicsapparel.com.
