CARLSBAD, California (June 21, 2021) – Honma has named industry veteran Janeann Lanning new Chief Operating Officer of its North American operations. Spending the previous 20-plus years with Bridgestone Golf in various roles, most recently as Senior Director of Operations, Lanning brings a wealth of experience to Honma’s Carlsbad, Calif. U.S. headquarters.
“Having worked for a Japanese golf equipment manufacturer, I was fully aware of Honma and its reputation as a premium golf company,” says Lanning. “Honma has a long history of performance innovation, always being at the forefront in utilizing premium metals and design. No other club manufacturer is vertically integrated – designing and manufacturing its own shafts to perfectly fit the characteristics of its clubheads.
“We fit the consumer’s needs from game improvement to professional, with a variety of products that are all beautifully crafted to a premium finish.”
Golf has experienced a major growth surge since the pandemic hit, and Lanning sees that as a great opportunity for the company. “I am very optimistic as the country has turned to golf during the pandemic, and we are seeing the largest increase in golfers in 17 years,” she says. “Women golfers jumped 8 percent year-over-year, for example, which directly corresponds to the demand increase for our Ladies’ BERES products.
“From the surge due to the increase in golf to the supply chain disruptions from the global pandemic, our challenge is to get our supply chain back in line with demand. Customers want our products, and we are determined to be a better business partner by revamping our supply chain. We also need to learn from what happened in 2020 and put preventive measures in place, so we are proactive and not reactive.
“Honma will grow exponentially over the next three years, by strategically and directly targeting golfers who are seeking the highest quality, superior performing, premium designed products.”
Lanning plans to build awareness of the Honma brand through traditional channels, such as getting product into the top 1,000 green grass pro shops, and non-traditional avenues like direct-to-consumer advertising that drives traffic to Honma’s own ecommerce platform. The team will establish Honma Golf’s premium position from both a performance and design perspective.
“I see Honma as a premium performance golf equipment brand made with the highest quality materials and with the most premium product designs,” says Lanning. “Honma is the number-one premium brand in the world because we believe making a golf club is an art form. “
For more information about Honma Golf visit: https://us.honmagolf.com.