Tony Whelan to return to Rain Bird Golf as international sales manager

Tony Whelan has returned to Rain Bird’s Golf Division as its new international sales manager. Whelan, who originally left in 2012, will return to the company he first joined through Rain Bird International in Canada in 1997.

He has worked in a variety of positions, eventually becoming regional manager for Rain Bird’s Canadian Landscape Division. Whelan and his family relocated to Rain Bird’s Tucson, Ariz., offices in 2005, where he worked with Landscape Division teams to grow international sales. In 2008, he joined the Golf Division as a golf specification manager.

After leaving Rain Bird, Whelan stayed in the golf industry in a leadership role with Jacobsen mowers. He also led channel expansion and development initiatives with MTD Products, focusing on outdoor power equipment dealerships and the landscape contractor market.

“We’re extremely pleased to welcome Tony back to the Rain Bird family,” said Stuart Hackwell, director of Rain Bird’s Golf Strategic Business Unit. “We’re already familiar with his many strengths and his in-depth knowledge of the golf market, and he’s only increased his expertise over the past few years. We expect him to be a great addition to our team as we expand Rain Bird Golf’s presence worldwide.”

In his new role, Whelan will use his significant sales and distribution experience to work closely with Rain Bird Golf’s international business managers and sales managers to grow golf sales in international markets outside of Europe and Canada.