Setanta chiefs pitched in to ISM
INTERNATIONAL Sports Management, the Cheshire firm which represents top golfers Lee Westwood, Darren Clarke, Open Champion Louis Oosthuizen and former cricket hero Andrew Flintoff was bought by Irish investors last summer, it emerged today.
The Rostherne-based group, founded by former golf professional Andrew ‘Chubby’ Chandler in 1989, was bought by the Irish businessmen behind broadcaster Setanta on July 14, newly filed accounts at Companies House reveal.
Mr Chandler who was the sole shareholder, remains at the helm of the business. Financial terms of the Irish investment were not disclosed.
Since the takeover Setanta founders Michael O’Rourke, Leonard Ryan and Mark O’Meara – the former GB head of Setanta – have joined the board of ISM, and are planning major investment to grow the business in the United States and to develop new events.
Accounts for International Sports Management Ltd for 2009 show that the business, which has 27 staff made a profit of £400,000 on turnover of £3.9m, compared with a profit of £14,000 on turnover of £8.5m in the previous year.
In his review of the year’s activity Mr Chandler said: “The business has combined a high level of client retention with a strong recruitment policy to increase its stable of top 100 world golf professionals.
“ISM continues to receive a robust stream of partnership opportunities in its own right relating to event management, course design, property investment, product promotion and corporate partnerships.
“Despite the economic climate, management is highly confident in the future success of ISM as sponsors look likely to turn from flagship national promotions to more focused and flexible sponsorship opportunities.”
