Dunlop boss takes on global role

Dunlop Slazenger has appointed an international head of marketing to co-ordinate its brands and advertising globally, following the 330m management buyout last week.

Philip Jansen, currently the managing director of Dunlop Slazenger’s marketing/commercial departments, will step into the new role of worldwide commercial director.

Jansen joined the sports equipment company from Procter & Gamble in 1994 as sales and marketing director for the Dunlop Slazenger International golf division.

Dunlop Slazenger chief executive David Jacobs says Jansen will oversee all brands internationally, including marketing and advertising divisions. His appointment may also spark an advertising agency review of the tennis racquet and golf balls empire, which sells its products to sports stars such as Arantxa Sánchez-Vicario and Seve Ballesteros.

Advertising for the company, part of BTR group until last week, has been handled through several agencies, including Abbot Mead Vickers.BBDO, which does the UK ads for Dunlop Slazenger.

Jacobs says manufacturing, purchasing and marketing of Dunlop Slazenger products will now be centralised into one team, operating from the Leatherhead headquarters.

The company’s golfing, racquets and shoe divisions were previously handled separately and by different marketing teams in Europe, the UK, Asia and the United States.

“It was efficient in some ways but we certainly didn’t get any worldwide brand synergies,” says Jacobs.

The commercial racquet and golf divisions are merging and will be headed by Brian Simpson, a long-time consultant at Dunlop Slazenger, who will take up the role of managing director for Europe.

Gordon Baird, current UK racquets managing director, will assume overall responsibility for the UK.