Mizuno has announced the promotion of Kate Whitmore to the role of EMEA Product Manager – Apparel, Footwear and Soft Goods.
Mizuno’s EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) golf operation achieved a record first half by volume and margin sales for 2017/18, before defying some of the worst weather on record during the early part of 2018 to maintain that strong performance during the second half too and leave net sales for the 2017/18 full year up 12% YOY.
While club sales remain the backbone of Mizuno’s EMEA business, there have been eye-catchingly strong performances in other sectors too. Shoe sales were up 113% YOY, with the WAVE Cadence and Nexlite models both very well-received, glove sales up 85% and soft goods sales up 44%. Kate Whitmore, in the key role of Golf EMEA Product Coordinator – Apparel, Footwear and Soft Goods, has played a major part in the brand’s growing success in these sectors, and will now be promoted to the role of Golf EMEA Manager – Apparel, Footwear and Soft Goods with effect from 1st July 2018.
Kate, who played golf at national level, has developed a thorough understanding of the golf industry over a number of years since graduating from the University of Newport in 2012 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Sports Studies. She worked for IMG, The Belfry Resort and Celtic Manor Resort before joining Mizuno in August 2014 as Golf EMEA Administrator. Two years later she was promoted to the role of Golf EMEA Product Coordinator – Apparel, Footwear and Soft Goods, and now takes on the role of Golf EMEA Product Manager in the same department.
“I’m so excited to be working with our apparel and soft goods teams in Japan, to expand our product range. We’ve so much exciting product in the pipeline – and an incredibly loyal following of Mizuno players in Europe, asking for more than clubs from Mizuno. It’s a great time to be involved,” said Whitmore.
