Sports Group International Appoints New Leadership
September 19, 2018 – Sports Group International, an executive search firm serving the sports industry, has named Julie Yochim as its new president following the retirement of Joe White.
Ms. Yochim joined the firm five years ago as an executive search consultant. She focuses on providing leadership and a technical expertise that will serve SGI’s clients in an ever-changing environment. She previously spent nine years as the research manager for Search Synergy Inc., an executive search firm in Portland, OR, serving the footwear industry. Earlier in her career, she gained industry experience at Adidas and Nordstrom.
Sports Group International will continue to focus on marketing, sales, product design, development and management within SGI’s sporting goods specialty client base. The firm’s headquarters will shift to Portland, OR. Dave Reinhart, SVP and executive search consultant, and Keith Liley, executive search consultant, will remain with the firm.
Sports and Entertainment Expansion Elevating Search Business
Over the last 25 years, the sports sector has grown into a formidable global industry. Historically, professional sports teams operated on a relatively modest level, with league officials, team owners, managers, and coaches surrounding themselves with people they knew and trusted from their own small worlds. College sports teams relied on in-house search committees and word-of-mouth recommendations. Familiarity, however, can also breed contempt.
Teams with huge followings like the Dallas Cowboys, Real Madrid and Manchester United have seen their valuations soar into the billions of dollars. That’s attracted search firms – big time. Seasoned recruiters now provide strategic planning advice, in addition to talent identification services, with the capability of applying their findings to speed along the process in the hunt for talent. Here’s some further reading from Hunt Scanlon Media.
“Julie Yochim was a great addition to the team 2013,” Mr. White said. “She had spent 20 years in the sporting goods industry before joining Sports Group International. Julie’s pedigree was similar to the successful members of our group, plus she had great experience in building an innovative and unmatched candidate tracking system to our business.”
Related: Executive Recruiters Prove Invaluable to Thriving Global Sports Sector
Tireless Leader
“Julie has been a tireless and professional teammate and leader,” said Mr. White. “In addition to working for our clients, Julie dedicated herself to the business and what it means as professional executive search consultant. As with all SGI personnel, she earned NAPS certification as certified professional search consultant. I am very happy and confident that Julie will take the firm forward in a very competitive market.”
Ms. Yochim said she was excited about the challenges ahead. “I feel very fortunate to have proven to Joe that our Sports Group International team will remain professional, competitive and most importantly of the highest integrity,” she said. “I will be leading a great team comprised of successful executive search consultants; Dave Reinhart, a 17-year veteran of Sports Group International, and Keith Liley, a former TSA buyer, who give us an added competitive edge in our market. Joe will remain as an emeritus member of the firm.”
Related: Recruiters Offer Sports Clients an Expanding Talent Platform
Established in 1989, Sports Group International is a boutique retained executive search firm specializing in the sporting goods and recreational products industry, including equipment, apparel, footwear, and accessories. The firm’s clients include: Adidas, Converse, Crocs, Dr. Scholl’s, K-Swiss, Nike, Timberland, Wilson Under Amour, Everlast, Igloo, Huffy Sports, Timex, Jack Nicklaus Sportwear, Callaway, Titleist and Burton.
An Expansive Field
Given the search industry’s knack for finding a need and filling it, it was only natural that recruitment firms would soon step to the fore in the sports sector, which has become a growth area for executive search businesses.
In addition to Sports Group International they include: Nolan Partners, SearchWide, Witt/Kieffer, Livingston James, Ventura Partners, SRi, Turnkey, CarrSports Consulting, Korn Ferry, Harvard Group International, Grace Blue, Prodigy Sports, Marquee Search, DHR International, Hartmann Mason, College Sports Associates, Egon Zehnder, Heidrick & Struggles, Ascension Sports Partners, Russell Reynolds Associates, Diversified Search, Odgers Berndtson, Eastman & Beaudine, Alden Associates, Parker Executive Search, Neinas Sports Services and Collegiate Sports Associates.
Related: Executive Recruiters Continue Their Expansion into the Sports Industry
