British president of Jacobsen steps down

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The British president and CEO of one of the world’s biggest golf course machinery suppliers, David Withers, has stepped down from his role.

Withers, who has been doing the job in North Carolina, USA, since 2011, is leaving due to a relocation to Augusta, due to Jacobsen’s merger with Textron Specialized Vehicles, about 170 miles away.

“As such my role would have moved to Augusta and I decided that this was not something that I wanted to do and felt that the timing was right for us to start looking at moving back to the UK,” he said. “I also think that the merger of the two brands will work better if it is truly integrated and I think that integration will be easier and more complete without there being an incumbent president of Jacobsen in the mix.”

Withers joined Jacobsen in the UK in 1992 as a regional sales manager, and then had a variety of increasingly senior roles within the organisation before becoming managing director of Ransomes Jacobsen in 2004.

“As regards the future as yet I have no plans, it has been a busy time planning the integration and all my thoughts and energy have been on working to ensure a smooth transition where our customers are only impacted positively. I will start to look at what opportunities there are and decide what we want to do next. I am hopeful that I can stay in this industry as I have so many friends and relationships that it would seem sad not to continue to build them in the future, albeit with another company,” he said.

“At Jacobsen the product lineup has truly been refreshed these last few years and the new products are well set to continue to win more business in the future, I think as well the product plan that is already in place will continue to deliver great ‘customer delighting’ platforms over the next five years.

“The philosophy that I bought to the role was based on what we referred to as ‘the 3B’s’:

• Building relationships with our customers is the most important thing we can do.
• We must build a great machine that makes our customers’ lives easier.
• Backing our products up for the whole life of the machine is key to our customers’ success.

“I think that if Jacobsen stays true to these tenets then the company will only continue to grow and succeed as it has these last years and I wish the company and all its wonderful employees and customers every success for the future.

“I have loved my 24 years with Jacobsen it has all been an amazing experience and such a privilege to lead this iconic company for the last five or so years, so whilst sad to be leaving I am also excited to see what the next chapter in my career may bring.”