LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman has spoken about the organisation’s new communications officer, who previously worked with Nike and Coverse
Greg Norman has praised LIV Golf’s newest recruit ahead of the 2025 season.
The LIV Golf calendar ended with the Team Championship finals in Dallas last month. Ripper GC clinched the title with a three-stroke lead, partly thanks to late birdie putts from captain Cameron Smith and Lucas Herbert, and claimed the £10.5million ($14m) grand prize.
The end of the 2024 season gives the breakaway league time to bolster their ranks, with the new campaign beginning in Riyadh in February. While many fans would expect LIV’s focus to be solely on replacing this season’s relegated players, the organisation has turend its attention to strengthening its personnel away from the course.
It was recently announced that LIV had hired ex-Nike and Converse employee Ilana Finley as the league’s new communications officer. While not the type of star signing that LIV Golf fans may be accustomed to, the league’s CEO Norman spoke glowingly about what Finley will bring to the organisation.
“She knows first-hand the challenges and opportunities that exist when growing a global brand and she understands how to align competition, culture and entertainment to deliver a product that fans embrace,” Norman said.
“Ilana is a skilled leader and communicator with a sincere passion for positively impacting teams and communities around the world, and LIV Golf is proud to have her on board.”
Finley echoed Norman’s excitement about joining LIV, adding: “Throughout my career, I’ve had the chance to drive impactful storytelling with global brands that are committed to building connections with diverse audiences by thinking boldly and being unafraid to take chances, and LIV Golf is doing just that.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I’m thrilled to help champion the League’s commitment to innovation, creativity and teamwork while making a positive impact around the world.”
New LIV Golf communications officer Ilana Finley (L) with Maria Sharapova ( Image: Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for Nike)
Finley is not the only appointment that LIV has made recently, having hired general managers for several of their teams. Former WME/IMG employee Nick Adams has joined new champions Ripper, while ATP Tour vice president Richard Glover will link up with Stinger. Elsewhere, ex-Minecraft CEO Jonas Martensson has joined Cleeks and esports expert Martin Kim has signed up with Iron Heads.
LIV will face fresh challenges in the new season after deciding to go head-to-head with the PGA Tour at the start of 2025. The first four dates in the LIV calendar will clash with the Phoenix Open, Genesis Invitational, Arnold Palmer Invitational and The Players.
The PGA and LIV shocked the sporting world by agreeing to the framework for a merger last June but it is unclear how much progress has been made since then. PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan, and CEO of the Public Investment Saudi Arabia, Yasir Al-Rumayyan, are set to cross paths in Scotland this week – but their focus will be on competing in the pro-am Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
