London, England: Rain Bird has appointed two new staff into its European Golf Team to support the company’s customers and further develop relationships with key partners and stakeholders.

Eric Ableitner is a graduate of the University of Arkansas in International Business and also has an MBA from Oklahoma State University.

With over 15 years’ experience in the construction industry, he joins Rain Bird from Hilti after 12 years in a number of senior roles including Director of Aftermarket Services in Germany, Global Supply Chain Manager in the US, Head of Tool Services in the UK and, most recently, as a specialist for high-end Energy and Industry capital projects.

As Regional Sales Manager North and Central Europe, based in the UK, Ableitner will lead the Rain Bird team to further develop the company’s presence in North and Central Europe, including in the key markets of the UK, Ireland, Scandinavia, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the north of Eastern Europe.

Ableitner said: “I’m very excited about joining Rain Bird. This role is a new challenge, with a wider remit but Rain Bird’s premium products and sustainability focus are closely aligned with my previous experience and expertise. I’m very much looking forward to supporting customers in the months ahead.”

Meanwhile, Christopher Miles, BSc (Hons), has joined Rain Bird as Golf Sales Specialist to support and develop key elements of the golf industry in the UK.

A keen golfer and an alumnus of University College, Chichester in Sports Studies, he has a strong track record in commercial sales and business development in sports and software development industries.

Alastair Higgs, International Sales Manager for Golf at Rain Bird, said: “I am delighted to welcome Eric and Chris to the Rain Bird Golf team. They both have a breadth of commercial, sales and operational experience that will be invaluable and will significantly enhance our capabilities as a team.”

*Rain Bird is an Executive Member of the Asian Golf Industry Federation.