Wme | Img Bolsters Golf Division

20 Feb 2015 | sigadmin

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WME | IMG has acquired Ohio-based golf talent agency Icon Sports Management, whose list of clients include Ryder Cup stars Ian Poulter and Henrik Stenson.

The deal will see Icon’s golf client, consulting and hospitality business absorbed into the golf division at WME | IMG, which represents a large number of golfers, as well as acting on behalf of 32 official tournaments around the world.

Led by president and chief executive R.J. Nemer, the agency’s founder, Icon currently manages a host of top golfers, including world number two Henrik Stenson, English star Ian Poulter and PGA Tour players Fred Funk, Carl Pettersson and Kevin Streelman.

The acquisition sees Icon’s president and chief executive, R.J. Nemer, take on the new role of senior vice president and head of golf clients, Americas at IMG.

Working out of IMG’s offices in Cleveland, he will oversee the company’s golf clients in the region whilst generating new business and continuing to represent Stenson, Poulter and others on a global basis.

Nemer commented: “We’re tremendously excited to leverage the collective strengths of our combined team as we continue to grow our brand both nationally and globally.

“I am particularly pleased that we will be based in Northeast Ohio, where the innovative and inspirational Mark McCormack – a personal hero of mine – planted the seed for what has become a global industry.”

In the last 14 months, IMG has added top-ranked golf clients including four-time PGA TOUR winner and Ryder Cup star Patrick Reed, world number 18 Hideki Matsuyama and LPGA Rookie of the Year Lydia Ko.

Additional signings include 2011 Masters champion Charl Schwartzel, major champion and top American money winner Cristie Kerr, No. 1 female amateurs Brooke Henderson and Minjee Lee, and rising European Tour players Renato Paratore of Italy, Eddie Pepperell of England and Kiradech Aphibarnrat of Thailand.