Ken Schofield
Ken Schofield, the former European Tour Executive Director, has been appointed into the Board of Directors of the Asian Tour, Executive Chairman Kyi Hla Han announced today.
Han said Schofield’s vast experience and high standing in the world of golf will benefit the Asian Tour and provide further thrust for the Tour’s next phase of growth and development.
The Asian Tour is primed for an expanded 2011 Schedule with over US$45 million in total prize money, driven by a new long-term production and distribution partnership with IMG Media.
“As the Asian Tour continues to expand across the region, we are delighted to welcome Ken Schofield as our newest Board Member. His experience having brought together the European Tour from a large geography of multiple demographics is similar to what the Asian Tour is facing today. We believe these similar experiences are unique and transferable, and that Ken’s experience is suited to our stage of development,” said Han.
“We have a very strong and experienced Board at the Asian Tour whose members have been instrumental in our recent steps to strengthen and enhance our product offering to our members and partners. With Ken’s experience and expertise gathered during his illustrious career, it will complement that of our existing board members very effectively.”
Schofield retired as head of the European Tour in December, 2004 after being at the helm for over 30 years. During his tenure, Schofield and his successor George O’Grady grew the Tour from prize money of less than £500,000 to £80 million.
He has also been instrumental in the growth of the Ryder Cup which is now one of the world’s greatest sporting spectacles and was one of the architects behind the establishment of European Tour Productions, the largest producer of golf programming in the world.
Schofield said: “The Asian Tour has grown tremendously over the years and I am excited to be given this opportunity to be a part of the team which will chart the Tour’s future and growth plans. The Asian Tour has established itself as a strong brand and with the success of its players both at home and abroad, the potential to grow is unlimited.
“I have long been aware of the enormous potential of golf in Asia and in recent years have enjoyed observing its ever more influential status on the global golfing map. I am delighted to be joining such a forward thinking and successful enterprise and hope that the knowledge I have gleaned from my years in golf will be of some benefit to the members. I look forward to being part of their next exciting stage of growth.
Schofield will join Rick Siemens, Gautam Thapar, Ho Lon Gee, Zhang Lian-wei, Boonchu Ruangkit, Unho Park, Iain Steel and Han on the Board of Directors.
Ken Schofield was born in 1946 and raised in Perthshire, Scotland, Ken began his working life in the banking profession, and at the age of 23 became Scotland's youngest bank manager. He succeeded John Jacobs on January 1, 1975 with the task of developing the autonomous European Tour. Ken set up the Tour’s charity-support programme, which has helped raise more than £25 million for many deserving causes. In 1993, Ken Schofield was awarded the Order of Merit from the Royal Spanish Golf Federation, followed by the Commander of the British Empire Award for Services to Golf and the Christer Lindberg Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Growth of Golf by the PGA of Europe in 1996.
In 2002 he won the Links Golfing Society Award and has been awarded both the Association of Golf Writers Award for Outstanding Services to Golf and the Sports Journalists’ Association Award for Lifetime Achievement in Sport off the field of play. In 2006, Ken was appointed by the ECB to conduct an enquiry into the state of English cricket, following the national side’s collapse in the Ashes Series that year. 19 of the report’s 20 recommendations were adopted, contributing to a dramatic turnaround in the fortunes of the national team.
Outside of golf, Ken is a passionate supporter of Scottish football club St Johnstone and a keen follower of athletics and cricket.
