Johnson-Hill to step aside at Galvin Green

After guiding Galvin Green over the past 15 years to become the leading golf apparel brand in the UK & Ireland, Mike Johnson-Hill is stepping aside as Managing Director of the domestic operation this summer and taking up a non-executive position on the company’s UK Board.

Having helped to find his successor in the pivotal role in the coming months, Johnson-Hill will then become chairman of Galvin Green (UK & Ireland), which accounted for more than 60% of group turnover last year.

“I think the time is right for me to stand down from the day to day business of running the operation here as the brand is now very strong and has a bright future with the teams in place both here and in Sweden,” said Johnson-Hill. “I’m very proud of my contribution to the business, which has grown well beyond our initial expectations and continues to set the benchmark for high performance clothing. But I also have to thank our loyal trade partners for the role they have played in conveying our Multi-layer story,” he added.

Golf Datatech* figures for UK golf clothing sales in 2014 credit Galvin Green with value shares of 47.6% in the waterproof sector, 17.7% in the men’s category and heading up the total golf apparel sector with 16.2%.

A prominent golf industry figure for the past three decades, who previously held senior executive roles with Wilson Sporting Goods and Grampian Golf (Glenmuir, ProQuip, Ben Sayers & Penfold), he began his association with Galvin Green in 1999 under a brand licensing agreement. Ten years later, he took up the position of Managing Director of UK & Irish operations when Galvin Green created a subsidiary in Europe’s biggest golf market.

“Mike has played a major role in the success of the brand and will act in an advisory position once his successor is found, so we can have a seamless transition and draw on his exceptional knowledge and experience,” said Christian Nilsson, CEO/MD of parent company Galvin Green AB. “We have appointed
Colt Mackenzie McNair to handle the search for Mike’s successor,” he added.

* Golf Datatech (January 2015)