Former IMG Consultant Kevin Ring Joins PGA of America as Chief Marketing Officer

Kevin Ring, who served as both a vice president at IMG Consulting and managing director for IMG’s Golf Consulting practice, has been named Chief Marketing Officer for The PGA of America.

Ring, who will report directly to PGA Chief Executive Officer Pete Bevacqua, will oversee the Marketing, Creative Resources, Research and Communications Departments. He is charged with developing and managing integrated marketing plans for The PGA that are designed to grow the Association’s assets.

The integrated plans encompass PGA member awareness, services, growth of the game and Championships. Ring will implement critical Golf 2.0 goals and initiatives into a broader marketing and commercial strategy. He also will develop a brand communication strategy that aligns with the goals of the Association, while creating new events and campaigns that enhance membership programs. As well, Ring is responsible for strategically positioning The PGA’s commercial assets, including its Championships, meetings and ancillary events, to market the organization and its brand globally.

At IMG, Ring negotiated partner-level sponsorships with The PGA of America, United States Golf Association and the R&A. He also managed the global business for blue chip clientele, including Chevron, KPMG and Thomson Reuters. Ring also created strategy, marketing and activation plans for clients associated with Major League Baseball, the United States Tennis Association and Formula One. In addition, he represented the Cleveland Indians in its sale of ballpark naming rights to Progressive Insurance.

“Kevin Ring has an incredible depth of consulting and marketing experience that reaches from the golf industry to some of the most recognizable client names in sports and business,” said Pete Bevacqua, Chief Executive Officer of The PGA of America. “We are delighted that he will steer The PGA’s Marketing programs, in order to drive heightened awareness to our brand, and ultimately, the PGA member.”

Ring began his career at IMG in 2000, working as a digital project manager for U.S. Soccer and Philips, where he developed and integrated the digital sponsorship strategy for both organizations’ 2002 World Cup Soccer platforms. Prior to joining IMG, Ring served as the assistant director of Communications for the Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) in Lake Placid, N.Y. In that role, he was responsible for media and government relations, as well as managing press operations and communications strategy for events, such as the Winter Goodwill Games and the ESPN Great Outdoor Games.

Ring has earned both a Bachelor of Science and Masters in Business Administration from Southern New Hampshire University, in Manchester. He will begin working in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., on February 18.

In addition to naming Ring as Chief Marketing Officer, The PGA of America promoted Kevin Carter to serve as its new Chief Business Officer. He will head the Broadcasting, Merchandising and Business Development Departments. Carter has overseen The PGA’s Business Development Department since 2006, as senior director, and recently as managing director. Carter has steered The PGA’s continued relationships with an extensive list of sponsors, partners and licensees, including Official Patron sponsorships with American Express, Mercedes-Benz and OMEGA.

Christine Garrity, who has served as The PGA’s managing director and general counsel since 2006, and has been a staff member of the Association since 1990, was also promoted to the position of Chief Administrative Officer & General Counsel. She will oversee the legal, governance, government relations, special events, and diversity and inclusion operations of The PGA. Garrity and Carter will also report to Bevacqua.

“I am proud to announce the promotions of both Christine Garrity and Kevin Carter, who have received well-earned advancements to the roles of Chief Administrative Officer and Chief Business Officer,” added Bevacqua. “They will all serve as key leaders in the new PGA of America.”