Singapore: Australian Marcus Giles has assumed the role as Membership and Administration Manager at the Asian Golf Industry Federation (AGIF).

Ho Chi Minh City-based Giles has more than 20 years’ experience in business, working with a wide variety of strategies and commercial models in both start-up environments and large corporate structures.

“We’re delighted to welcome Marcus to the AGIF’s executive team,” said Richard Walne, President of the Federation, the region’s umbrella golfing body.

The appointment of Giles is part of a restructuring process at the AGIF that has also seen the arrival of a new bookkeeper.

Walne said: “With Marcus and our bookkeeper on board, joining Chief Communications Officer Spencer Robinson, we’ve put in place a strong team.

“In the coming months, the executive team will work in particularly close association with the Management Committee and the Board of Directors as we embark on a new, concerted membership drive.

“We will also be calling on the expertise and local knowledge of our Senior Advisors in Korea (Oh Sang-jun), Malaysia (Zainal Mohammad Shah) and Vietnam (Le Hoang Phuong).”

Walne added that AGIF Vice President David Townend will act as Interim Chief Executive Officer following the decision of Eric Lynge to stand down after seven years in the post.

Prior to relocating to Vietnam, Giles worked at Australia’s 13th Beach Golf Links, initially as Golf Operations Manager and then Marketing Manager.

In 2019 he joined Ba Na Hills Golf Club in Central Vietnam as Director of Sales and Marketing, responsible for all sales and marketing and public relations as well as managing relationships with key travel agency suppliers across multiple in-bound markets.

Since 2017, he has also been helping club owners to capitalise on the growth of Vietnam’s golfing industry by raising operational standards and service levels, and helping golf clubs maximise yield and profitability through effective digital marketing and e-commerce.

In the mid-1990s, Giles spent a year at the People’s University of China in Beijing on an exchange programme for the completion of his China language major.

He said: “Being fluent in Mandarin gives me an ability to communicate cross-culturally, especially in Asian markets.

“The Asian Golf Industry Federation is established as one of the most prominent golfing organisations in the region and I look forward to working with the Board and the executive team to further strengthen its reputation and standing.”