Chief Technical Officer Benoit Vincent to Retire, Todd Beach Named Successor at TaylorMade Golf Co.

Benoit Vincent

(CARLSBAD, Calif.) – TaylorMade Golf Company announced today that Benoit Vincent, Chief Technical Officer of Research and Development, has decided to retire from the Golf industry and is set to depart TaylorMade Golf in late 2017. Succeeding Vincent will be current Vice President of Metalwood Product Development and 22-year veteran of the company, Todd Beach. Beach’s contributions to TaylorMade’s metalwoods are among the most successful in the industry. In the interim, Vincent will remain on staff through the transition as EVP, continuing the management of a team of more than eighty research and development staff of metalwoods, irons, putters, wedge and golf ball engineers.

Vincent graduated from the Institute National des Sciences Appliquées, Lyon, France with a PhD in Mechanical Engineering in 1983. He began his engineering career conducting research on turbocharged airplane engines before joining TaylorMade Golf in 1989. During his time with the company, Vincent has spearheaded many of the company’s most successful products, starting with TaylorMade’s groundbreaking Movable Weight Technology under whose umbrella falls the r7, R9, R11 and R1 series of metalwoods. Other historic products launched during his tenure include the iconic white R11 driver; the RocketBallz fairway wood with TaylorMade’s patented Speed Slot, RocketBladez irons, which utilize iconic Speed Pocket technology and most recently, the M1 & M2 metalwoods and irons family, the company’s most innovative high-performance products to date that are played by more Tour players than any other manufacturer.

Vincent is also credited with the formation of the golf ball division of TaylorMade and the creation of the first and only five-layer Tour ball on the market. He is now responsible for golf club and ball research & development, engineering and sourcing while managing engineering teams in four different countries.

In addition to his contributions in a working capacity, Benoit is a true champion of TaylorMade culture and has helped guide, mentor and coach many of our leaders. From a young age, Vincent has held a passion for the field of psychology and mental health. So much so, after a remarkably successful 27-year career with TaylorMade, he has made the decision to return to school in a graduate Psychology program to further his education.

"Over the course of his 27 years with TaylorMade, Benoit has made a lasting impact on the industry. From his brilliant mind, his willingness to take risks and his ability to empower his team, I can’t say enough about what a staple and visionary he has been for not only our company, but for the game of golf as well. Although we will miss him, I have the utmost confidence that Todd and our Research and Development team will continue to create innovative, game-changing products that will continue to excite golfers." -David Abeles, TaylorMade President & CEO

Over the course of the next several months, Vincent will continue to be dedicated to helping his team transition and will be here full time until he leaves late in 2017 to begin his studies.

Todd Beach

Upon his departure, Todd Beach will have full scope of the Research Development Engineering Sourcing (RDES) team. For the past 17 years, Beach has worked under Vincent’s leadership and has led the metalwoods team for the last 15 years. After graduating with his bachelor’s degree in Engineering Sciences and his master’s degree in Applied Mechanics from UCSD, Beach started his career at TaylorMade in 1995 as an engineer in product development. In 2003 he became the director of the metalwood product development and was then promoted to Vice President in 2012.

"After working alongside Todd for so many years and watching him evolve, I know that he is the right person to oversee the RDES team. What he has been able to accomplish with the metalwoods team demonstrates he has the creative mindset, foresight and leadership ability to propel the team forward." -David Abeles, TaylorMade President & CEO