November 11, 2015 – Mizuno, the Japanese golf equipment manufacturer long renowned for its industry-leading forged irons and wedges, has announced an important restructure to its European, Middle East and African (EMEA) golf operation, effective 1st October 2015.

Rob Jackson, current Head of UK Golf, takes on the role of Head of Golf for the newly formed Mizuno Golf EMEA and will oversee the team from a UK base but now with a wider-reaching remit.

The news follows the phenomenal early sales success of the stunning MP-5 and MP-25 irons and S5 wedges, with the MP-25s, featuring #boronfuelled technology, becoming the fastest and best-selling irons in their first month of sales in Mizuno’s illustrious history. Sales of the new MP-irons are 64% up across Europe on the equivalent MP iron launch in 2014, while both MP irons and S5 wedges sales are 54% up on the same period in 2014 in the region.

“These are exciting times for the brand,” Rob Jackson enthused. “We have just enjoyed our best launch month sales ever for both custom irons and also wedges, so it’s important that we have the right infrastructure in place to support the progress we are making at trade and retail.”

Mizuno Golf EMEA will be based at the brand’s Winnersh offices in the UK, and Jackson, who has been with Mizuno for 16 years, brings a wealth of industry experience to his new role as the company establishes a single base for the EMEA region to replace the current structure of separate offices for separate countries.

“It is a huge opportunity to simplify our internal processes and integrate our sales and marketing plans across the whole of EMEA” added Rob Jackson.

“The world is a smaller place and it’s become ever-more important that we have one voice across all of our golf business in the region. Golf retail has been going through one of its toughest and most challenging periods, but we firmly believe we can help retailers find a way through it while at the same time remaining true to our values and offering stability.”

With minimum product life cycles of two years, exceptional custom-fit service including the exclusive Swing DNA and fitting software, industry-leading products, no upcharge for shafts or grips, and free wedge stamping, the Mizuno evolution continues to gather momentum quietly. Under Jackson’s guidance, that evolution will now spread throughout the whole EMEA region.

From an original spirit and desire to “go and create the best products for consumers”, Mizuno has become recognised the world over as the clear leader in golf club forgings, with its Grain Flow Forged irons still manufactured in Hiroshima, Japan, by the brand’s Yoro craftsman. The new MP irons, S5 wedges and JPX EZ products offer the best performance benefits that modern technology can bring, while still adhering to the spirit and desire that the brand has held so dear for nearly 110 years.

“As our latest products attest, we firmly remain a product-focused company; one that believes in a partnership with our retailers,” Mizuno’s new Head of Golf EMEA explained. “We want retailers and consumers to trust both our product quality and brand philosophy, and we will be working tirelessly with our team in the EMEA to continue to deliver on both counts.”