The PGA TOUR has announced the appointment of Andy Weitz as its new Chief Marketing & Communications Officer and Executive Vice President of Investor Relations for the Tour’s global operations.
In the role, Weitz will be responsible for positioning the PGA TOUR brand for current and future investment while communicating its global strategy and performance to the TOUR’s stakeholders and beyond.
Weitz comes to the PGA TOUR following a decade at Aon, where he most recently served as Chief Marketing Officer for the global professional services firm. Prior to joining Aon in 2014, Weitz was US President and Chief Executive Officer of Hill+Knowlton Strategies, a leading global strategic communications consultancy in the WPP portfolio.
“As our business continues to evolve and grow, Andy will be an invaluable addition to the PGA TOUR given his experience as a trusted advisor to many of the world’s largest and most influential companies,” said PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan. “With his track record of helping global companies tell their stories and engage their stakeholders, as well as his deep knowledge of the business community, Andy will be instrumental in further elevating the PGA TOUR brand and helping our organization grow.”
In addition to overseeing marketing and communications for the PGA TOUR, Weitz will take on a newly created investor relations role that is responsible for developing messaging and communicating strategy for PGA TOUR Enterprises, a for-profit subsidiary of PGA TOUR, Inc., incorporated earlier this year. In January, the Strategic Sports Group (SSG) made an initial investment of $1.5 billion – with up to $3 billion available – into the new commercial venture, and this funding will allow the PGA TOUR to make significant strategic investments to enhance the PGA TOUR experience for fans and players, and benefitting tournaments, sponsors and other constituents.
Through the PGA TOUR Enterprises structure, the PGA TOUR unveiled a Player Equity Program, a first in professional sports. PGA TOUR players now have an investor stake in the TOUR’s commercial growth, which creates alignment between the organization’s athletes and the strategic investments that will further grow the game and engage the next generation of fans.
“With the launch of PGA TOUR Enterprises and the investment made by SSG, the PGA TOUR’s business has grown significantly in value, opportunity and complexity,” said Joe Gorder, PGA TOUR Enterprises Board Chairman. “This new role is important to the PGA TOUR’s ability to successfully execute its strategy and deliver an engaging, satisfying future product for fans.”
“In our search, Andy’s experience and clear ability to use a mix of techniques to reach and engage everyone from Main Street consumers to Wall Street investors stood out,” said Ed Herlihy, PGA TOUR Policy Board Chairman. “I am confident Andy will contribute enormously to the organization’s future success.”