Liberty Corner, New Jersey, United States: The United States Golf Association (USGA) has announced three new nominees to its 15-member Executive Committee – Chuck Brymer, Chairman of DDB Worldwide; Cathy Engelbert, Commissioner of the WNBA and former Deloitte CEO; and Anthony Petitti, President of Sports and Entertainment for Activision Blizzard.

In addition, Kendra Graham, Nick Price and Sharon Ritchey have each been nominated to serve a second term, Graham and Ritchey for three years, Price for two years.

If elected at the USGA’s Annual Meeting on February 26, 2021, the three new members will add expertise and leadership that directly align with the USGA’s Strategic Plan and its mission to champion and advance the game of golf. The current set of objectives includes elevating the positive impact of the USGA’s 14 global championships and deepening its investment in golf programmes and services to ensure a thriving, welcoming and sustainable game.

The Board of the non-profit golf organisation is led by Stuart Francis, who will serve the second year of his three-year term as President in 2021.

“It is a testament to the strength of the USGA that we are able to attract global leaders across various industries to serve on our Executive Committee,” said Mike Davis, CEO of the USGA. “The independent skill sets and experience they possess complement those of the entire Board, and their collective passion to support a healthy future for golf benefits our organisation and everyone in the game.”

Francis, who is entering his seventh year on the Executive Committee, added: “Each candidate possesses strengths that directly align with the USGA’s long-range Strategic Plan, and the expertise to deliver on the organisation’s mission. We are excited about the impact that we know Chuck, Cathy and Anthony can deliver, if elected.”

Current USGA Executive Committee members include Graham, Price, Ritchey, Anthony Anderson, Michael Bailey, Thomas Barkin, Stephen Beebe, Paul Brown, Courtney Myhrum, Fred Perpall and Deborah Platt Majoras.

Martha Lang and William Siart will retire from the Executive Committee after a combined 10 years of service to the Executive Committee.

Per the by-laws of the Association, Brymer, Engelbert and Petitti will each serve a three-year term beginning in 2021, with the potential to be elected for a second and final three-year term in 2024. The USGA made the strategic decision to increase Executive Committee member term limits from one year to three in 2020 as part of a regular review to enhance the effectiveness of its governance structure.

As Chairman of DDB Worldwide, one of the top advertising and marketing agencies in the world, Brymer provides oversight to more than 200 offices in over 80 countries and spearheaded the company’s transition into the digital advertising age.

A passionate outdoorsman, sports enthusiast and recreational golfer, Brymer started playing the game in his teens with his brothers in his home state of Kentucky. He has a USGA Handicap Index of 8.0.

Engelbert was named the WNBA’s first Commissioner in 2019 after a storied 33-year career at Deloitte, in which she became the first female CEO in the history of a Big Four professional services firm. As Deloitte CEO from 2015-2019, Engelbert led more than 100,000 professionals of the accounting and consulting organisation in the United States.

She is currently a member of the Board of McDonald’s Corporation and was named one of Fortune’s Most Powerful Women for four consecutive years. Engelbert, a former Division I college basketball and lacrosse player, has since found a passion for golf, and is a mother to two children.

Petitti brings more than 30 years of executive experience within the sports and entertainment industries. As president of Sports and Entertainment at Activision Blizzard, Inc, he oversees all esports, consumer products, and film and television for the leading interactive entertainment company. 

A 13-time Emmy Award winner, he was Executive Vice President and Executive Producer at CBS Sports, where he was responsible for the network’s sports programming and production. A native of Queens, New York, he started playing golf in his early 20s with his father on area public courses and maintains a 7.1 USGA Handicap Index.