Summit Golf Brands—the golf industry’s leading golf-focused apparel group and a division of Northbridge Equity Partners—has named sporting goods- golf industry veteran Paul Clark as its new Chief Executive Officer.

Clark, who most recently led Fila USA as its President and Managing Director, has enjoyed a successful career in the sporting-goods and golf industries. Mr. Clark spent 11 years at Reebok, the last five as Reebok Golf-Greg Norman Director of Sales and then Reebok Golf General Manager. Clark then spent four years at TaylorMade-adidas Golf as Vice President/General Manager of adidas Golf before going to work for Fila USA, a Cerberus portfolio company.

“Paul has been a strong, proven leader in the sporting-goods industry and his addition as CEO of Summit Golf Brands strengthens our company and industry related growth opportunities,” says Gill Broome, President of Northbridge Equity Partners, a private equity firm specializing in buyouts of brand-based consumer products businesses. “We’re very excited to have Paul as part of our team, as his vast leadership experience will enable Summit Golf Brands to continue to provide its customers with the industry’s finest products and customer service.”

Clark says he is extremely excited about joining the outstanding team at Summit Golf Brands, which owns Fairway & Greene and EP Pro—the golf industry’s No. 1-ranked men’s and women’s golf apparel brands.

“I am very proud that Summit Golf Brands has chosen me to lead the golf industry’s most prominent golf-focused apparel group,” Clark says. “We have tremendous leadership at both Fairway & Greene and EP Pro in Todd Martin and Larry Mathe, respectively, and we believe both brands have tremendous opportunities.

“Our brand portfolio has always stood for the best quality product and preeminent customer service in the industry,” Clark adds. “We plan to evolve and enhance that position while continuing our search for meaningful acquisitions that increase our golf-focused offerings in a very competitive and changing environment. Along with that, we will continue to reinforce our commitment to the golf professional and our consumers who also love and respect the game of golf. I look forward to the opportunity and expect Summit Golf Brands to continue to lead in our respective categories.”

Summit Golf Brands was founded in late 2005, and is designed for its brands to play an important role in the lives of all golfers, and enhance and enrich the quality of golfers’ lifestyles, both on and off the course.

Fairway & Greene, founded in 1995, has rapidly grown to become one of the dominant players in the high-end golf apparel market. Each item is fashioned from the finest pure-finish fabrics, long since abandoned by other makes due to rarity and cost, and each hand tailored with a care and quality that is uniquely Fairway & Greene. With an unparalleled emphasis on product quality and customer service, Fairway & Greene is specifically positioned to help PGA Professionals enhance their golf shop merchandise offerings.

EP Pro, the New York City-based premier women’s golf apparel company founded in 1993, has been leading the green-grass and resort industry for more than 10 years, delivering a product line where function meets styling.

For more information contact Mary Beth Lacy at 760-346-6942 or email mb@mblacy.com