Golfsmith International Names Sue E. Gove Chief Executive Officer

AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Golfsmith International announced today that Sue E. Gove has been named President and Chief Executive Officer of the world's largest specialty golf retailer. Gove, formerly President and Chief Operating Officer of the combined Golfsmith and Golf Town business, has also served as the Chief Integration Officer leading the successful Golfsmith-Golf Town combination which was finalized this past July.

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121105/NE06031 )

Marty Hanaka, the previous CEO, will serve in an advisory role through the end of this year. Marty has been with Golfsmith since 2007 and has led the company through a major growth period and the Golfsmith-Golf Town combination.

"We're thankful to Marty for his strong leadership over the years. He has been a wonderful asset to the company and we wish him all the best in the future," said Don Morrison, board member and Senior Managing Director of OMERS Private Equity.

"With Sue Gove's leadership, and her team now in place, we are well equipped to achieve the goals of the combination and take the business into the future," added Morrison.

Since joining Golfsmith International in September 2008 as Chief Operating Officer, Ms. Gove has been instrumental in improving Golfsmith's operations in the areas of store productivity, supply chain management, distribution, finance, and information technology. Ms. Gove has positioned Golfsmith International for growth in both its retail and online platforms.

"Golfsmith International is changing the face of golf. Our business is stronger, larger, and well-positioned to meet the needs of golfers throughout North America," said Gove. "We remain committed to exceeding customer expectations while keeping our passion for golf and the customers we serve at the center of all we do." 

Prior to joining Golfsmith, Ms. Gove was an independent consultant, serving clients in specialty retail and private equity. Previously, she was Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Zale Corporation from 2002 to March 2006, and a director of Zale Corporation from 2004 to 2006. Ms. Gove has also been a member of the Board of Directors of Autozone, Inc. since 2005.

About Golfsmith International 
Golfsmith International, a portfolio company of OMERS Private Equity based in Austin, TX, is the largest specialty golf retailer in the world operating Golfsmith stores in the U.S. and Golf Town stores in Canada and Boston. The business operates as an integrated, multi-channel retailer, offering customers the convenience of shopping through any of its 152 retail locations or 24/7 shopping at its e-commerce sites – www.golfsmith.com and www.golftown.com. Golfsmith International offers extensive product selection of premier branded golf equipment as well as its proprietary products, club-making components and pre-owned clubs. 

About OMERS Private Equity Inc.
Operating under the OMERS Worldwide brand, OMERS Private Equity today manages the private equity activities of OMERS and has over $6.5 billion of investments under management. The group's investment strategy includes the active ownership of businesses in North America and Europe. OMERS Private Equity is headquartered in Toronto, Canada, with offices in New York and London. For further information visit: www.omerspe.com.

About OMERS
OMERS is one of Canada's largest pension funds with over $55 billion in net assets. It provides first-class pension administration and innovative products and services to 420,000 members. Approximately one in every 20 employees working in the province of Ontario is an OMERS member. Through the OMERS Worldwide brand, our team of investment professionals uses a direct drive, active management investment strategy to invest in public and private market assets, including publicly-traded equities, fixed-income, infrastructure, private equity and real estate. For further information visit: www.omers.com or www.omersworldwide.com.

Media Contacts:
Chris Miller, Golfsmith, 512-821-4131 or [email protected]   
Lynn Luczkowski, L2 Communications 860-313-1426 or [email protected]   
Aubrey Haznar, L2 Communications, 617-549-8792 or [email protected]

SOURCE Golfsmith International