In a move that had been coming for some time, Rory McIlroy today confirmed details of his new management company and of his split from his association with Horizon Sports Management.
McIlroy’s plans to leave Horizon and to set up his own management company comprised of his father Gerry and other close associates had been known for some time and it was officially confirmed today when he tweeted a link to a website for Rory McIlroy Incorporated, the company that will look after his business interests from now on.
For news of my new management structure please go to the following link: http://t.co/1QyWFe5Z0d
— Rory Mcilroy (@McIlroyRory) September 27, 2013
Currently, the only feature on the website is a statement confirming his departure from Horizon which reads: “Rory McIlroy today [27th September ’13] confirmed he has terminated his contract with Horizon Sports Management and that the details of the termination are in the hands of a legal team led by A&L Goodbody in Dublin, Ireland.
“The golfer’s business interests will from now on be managed by Rory McIlroy Incorporated. CEO of RMI will be Donal Casey, an actuary by profession with many years of CEO experience. The Rory Foundation for charity will be run by Barry Funston, a business leader and longtime friend of the McIlroy family.
“Both men will serve on the RMI Board, together with Gerry McIlroy. Media relations for the golfer and his management company will be handled by a team from The Communications Clinic, led by Terry Prone.”
Although it has been coming, McIlroy’s split with Horizon was a surprise considering that he had already split with Chubby Chandler’s International Sports Management in 2011 and Horizon had been involved in negotiating a series of lucrative endorsements with the likes of Omega, Bose and one of the biggest ever deals in the history of golf with Nike.
Much like his new clubs, McIlroy’s difficulties with Horizon was one of a number of reasons put forward for his poor showings on the course in probably his most difficult year as a professional to date.
His decision to part company with Horizon and agent Conor Ridge caused friction for a time with McIlroy’s fellow Northern Irishman and one of his best friends on tour, Graeme McDowell, who, like McIlroy, left International Sports Management to join Horizon.
How the deal affects McIlroy off the course remains to be seen but hopefully he’ll be back in the headlines for the good stuff he’s doing on the course sooner rather than later.
