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The PGA TOUR announced today executive staffing changes within the Marketing and Championship Management departments after an appropriate transition subsequent to THE PLAYERS Championship in early May.
Jay Monahan, Executive Director of THE PLAYERS Championship, will transition to the Corporate Marketing Department to become Senior Vice President-Business Development. In this capacity, Monahan will be responsible for securing new sponsors and managing existing PGA TOUR title sponsorship relationships. Monahan will report to Chief Marketing Officer Tom Wade. He replaces Jon Podany, who recently was named Chief Marketing Officer of the LPGA.
Matt Rapp, Vice President-Business Development, will replace Monahan as Executive Director of THE PLAYERS.
“We are very fortunate to have a talented team in place that will allow us to make these changes in a seamless manner,” said PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem. “Jay has done an outstanding job in his capacity as Executive Director of THE PLAYERS, and while we certainly didn’t anticipate his leaving the position this soon, his background makes him the ideal candidate to lead our Business Development area. Matt has a strong and diverse background encompassing management, sales, marketing and communications that will be tremendously beneficial as he transitions to oversee operations for THE PLAYERS.”
Monahan was named Executive Director of THE PLAYERS in June 2008 after serving several years as executive vice president for Fenway Sports Group (FSG), where he led the sales and business development team for FSG’s property ownership and representation divisions. He was closely involved with the sales and marketing of the Deutsche Bank Championship and directed FSG’s sponsorship sales operations for the Boston Red Sox, Major League Baseball Advanced Media, NASCAR’s Roush Fenway Racing and Boston College Athletics.
Prior to joining FSG, Monahan spent three years at IMG Worldwide as executive director. While there, he was intimately involved with the creation of the Deutsche Bank Championship and served as the tournament’s first director.
“It has been extremely rewarding working with our outstanding staff, our Vice Chairmen led by 2010 Tournament Chairman Harold Tool and our Red Coats to continue to grow the economic and charitable impact of THE PLAYERS,” Monahan said. “I look forward to another outstanding tournament in May, and while it is difficult to leave THE PLAYERS, I am excited about the opportunity that has been presented to me to build and service the PGA TOUR’s sponsorship base.”
Rapp came to the TOUR in 2005 after spending five years with the ATP World Tour, first as vice president of public relations and communications, then as vice president of partnerships marketing and sales. In his five years in Business Development, Rapp has contributed significantly to the growth of the PGA TOUR’s title sponsor and Official Marketing Partner categories. Prior to the ATP, he worked with Burson-Marsteller as director of European Public Affairs.
“I look forward to serving as the steward of our highest-profile tournament and building on the work of Jay and many others to continue to make THE PLAYERS its very best,” Rapp said. “I’m proud to have lived in this area for the past eight years and look forward to getting much more closely involved with all of the volunteers, sponsors and the charities that THE PLAYERS supports.”
Additionally, as part of this transition, Peter Kent, who has served as Vice President-Retail and Championship Management Sales, will assume additional responsibilities within Championship Management as Vice President, Championship Management Business Affairs. Championship Management is overseen by David Pillsbury.
