Two days after the LPGA announced that chief marketing officer Chad Coleman was stepping down less than a year after taking the job, the PGA of America unveiled its own new marketing leader.
Coleman, one of commissioner Craig Kessler's first major hires after taking over the LPGA, informed the tour he would be leaving the organization for family reasons. The former Dude Perfect chief brand officer joined the LPGA in January as part of Kessler's effort to modernize and grow the tour's business operations.
The LPGA won't replace Coleman with another chief marketing officer. Instead, Taylor Strick, formerly Aon's global head of partnerships, will join the tour as senior vice president of marketing, reporting directly to Kessler while also overseeing
social media operations.
Less than 24 hours later, the PGA of America made an announcement of its own regarding that critical position.
The organization named Marissa Bataille Daly its new chief marketing officer, bringing in an executive with nearly two decades of experience in sports marketing, content and audience development. Daly arrives from the Los Angeles Rams, where she served as senior vice president of studios and marketing and oversaw a 50-person operation spanning creative, production, digital marketing, game presentation, social media and influencer strategy.
She will report directly to PGA of America CEO Terry Clark and be based at the organization's Frisco, Texas, headquarters.
"Marissa knows how to turn a strong sports brand into an experience that connects with people," Clark said. "She has led talented teams, created memorable game days and found new ways to engage audiences before, during and after major events."
For the PGA of America, the hire represents a significant investment in marketing and storytelling as the organization looks to elevate its championships, strengthen its brand and spotlight its more than 30,000 PGA of America Golf Professionals.
As chief marketing officer, Daly will oversee the association's brand, marketing, social media and content efforts. Her resume includes six Rams playoff runs, two Super Bowl appearances and prior stops at Yahoo Sports, where she worked on audience-growth initiatives, partnerships and major sports marketing campaigns.
"I'm thrilled to join the team at the PGA of America and support the more than 30,000 PGA of America Golf Professionals who bring the game to life every day," Daly said. "I'm excited to get to know them, share their stories and create new ways to connect golfers and audiences with our Members, the game and our championships."
Taken together, the moves offered a fascinating snapshot of two golf organizations heading in different directions with their marketing leadership. The LPGA is eliminating its chief marketing officer role less than a year after creating it, while the PGA of America is betting on a proven NFL executive to lead its marketing operation into its next chapter.
Tim Schmitt is the editor of Golfweek and the golf coordinator for the USA Today Network.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: PGA of America hires new CMO, who comes from an NFL team
