Nike Golf CEO Cindy Davis Retiring At 52

The highly competent if not overly-dynamic Cindy Davis announced her retirement at 52 from Nike Golf, where she's been since 2008.

David Dusek's report includes this corporate spin:

Jayme Martin, the vice president and general manager of Nike Global Categories, said, “We thank Cindy for her leadership throughout the years as she has led the development and growth of Nike Golf Business worldwide. Under Cindy’s direction, Nike Golf has steadily delivered profitable growth year after year since 2009.”

Mike Stachura notes in his item that Davis was the "first woman to be named president of a major golf equipment company and still the highest ranking female executive in the game."

Golf was recently singled out in news stories like this one about Nike's robust quarter for being the only sports because the "Action Sports" category not showing all-vital, life-essential growth. Forbes just named Nike the top brand in sports.

Comments

[Center Cut]

Hit one of their VRX drivers recently and was more impressed than I thought I would be.

Difficult to go wrong when yur modus operandi is to just outspend everyone else to get the worlds best.

Would be interesting to see what % of Nike golfers have won majors compared to others.

[nguyenvuminh]

I don't recall a lot of criticism of Rory's Nike equipment now that he has gotten two more majors with the Nike stuff. Talk about guilty by association. People hated Woods so much that anything having to do with him is up for criticism and ridicule. And don't side step by saying that Rory's criticism was for changing equipment, the criticism was directed specifically at Nike. Don't get me wrong, I'm not defending Nike golf equipment, I'm just saying that a great golfer was being criticized by a bunch of sofa riding hacks for his equipment choice simply because they came from the same company that is associated with Woods. He'd still have won had he gone with Callaway and I'm sure there would be a lot less criticism at that time.

[Vwa3v60golferrr]

New vapor line is impressive but that swoosh on driver crown is a big bummer.

[KLG]

Wait a minute. We are supposed to retire at 52? Must have missed that memo.

[nguyenvuminh]

@CenterCut - Just found this blurb about Nike-equipped major winners under Cindy Davis' watch, which would be from 2008. I'm sure DTF can do the stats work over a longer period.

"...Since 2008, the year Davis took over, Nike staffers have won more majors than any other company with seven. The list includes Trevor Immelman (2008 Masters), Woods (2008 U.S. Open), Lucas Glover (2009 U.S. Open), Stewart Cink (2009 British Open), Charl Schwartzel (2011 Masters), McIlroy (2014 British, 2014 PGA Championship)... - courtesy of an article from Golf Digest

[Mike T.]

What's next for a 52-year-old retiree, with corporate business credibility and a no-doubt, tidy golf game?

[AG]

Is she single?