Monday, May 20, 2013

Waitt Company Acquires Bobby Jones Brand


Andy Bell Named CEO of Jones Global Sports

(New York, NY) — Waitt Company has reached agreement to acquire all operating assets of the Bobby Jones brand from W Diamond Group Corporation, a New York based company owned and led by Doug Williams and his family. As part of this agreement, the Jones family and the W Diamond Group Corporation have agreed to provide Waitt Company a long-term license for the exclusive use of the Bobby Jones brand globally in connection with apparel, golf equipment and related products and accessories.      

Waitt Company will operate the Bobby Jones business under a newly formed affiliate, Jones Global Sports, and will assume all global operations. Doug Williams will join the board of Jones Global Sports and assist in preserving and expanding the brand. The current president of Bobby Jones, Andy Bell, will be promoted to CEO of Jones Global Sports.

“We are humbled by the trust the heirs of Bobby Jones are putting in us to protect and expand this premium brand globally in a manner consistent with the legacy of Bobby Jones,” said Dana Bradford, CEO of Waitt Company. “We look forward to moving the Bobby Jones brand forward in partnership with management. Andy Bell, Jesse Ortiz and the entire team have a tremendous passion for golf and pride in the Bobby Jones brand, and we are honored to be partnered with them.”

“The decision to partner with the Waitt Company on the Bobby Jones brand and business was a very important decision for the Jones family and me,” said Doug Williams.  After meeting with Dana Bradford a couple of times, it was clear to me the Waitt organization and all the resources at their disposal was the right fit for Bobby Jones brand, the Jones family and the legacy of Bobby Jones the individual. The Waitt organization has a reputation for honoring everything it says and doing exactly what it says it will do. I am excited about the future of Bobby Jones, and look forward to continuing to assist Andy Bell and his team as a director of Jones Global Sports.”

“Our sincere thanks to Doug Williams and his team at W Diamond Group for delivering on their promise and giving this great brand the foundation to advance its prominence in the golf industry,” said Andy Bell, CEO of Jones Global Sports.  “We’re truly excited about our partnership with Waitt Company and the tremendous resources that will be behind the Bobby Jones brand.  Dana Bradford and the Waitt Company team’s desire to build a great brand were evident from the start and they recognized our entire team shares their passion.  The names and faces in place that have become so trusted by our golf industry partners will work hard to ensure this transition is seamless for them.”  

For nearly two decades, Bobby Jones has provided luxury men’s and women’s sportswear, including polo shirts, button downs, shorts, slacks and sweaters/knits to demanding consumers looking to exude a classy, cool confidence on and off the course.  The Bobby Jones brand can be found at the finest golf clubs, resorts and haberdasheries in the world.  For more information on the Bobby Jones brand, visit www.bobbyjones.com.

Contact: AmericanGolferBlog@gmail.com

No comments: