According to a company press release, on April 9 Lagardère Sports’ U.S. Chief Operating Officer Jay Danzi will step down after nearly five years with the agency. As if losing its COO wasn’t a big enough blow, the world’s number four golfer Jordan Spieth, a Danzi client, will follow suit.
Danzi joined Lagardère Sports in 2013 as President of Consulting, a role in which he oversaw the creation of the agency’s corporate consulting group and helped expand its golf division. He oversaw the management of Spieth who was just starting his professional career. Four years later, in 2017, he was named the Chief Operating Officer of the Paris-based agency’s U.S. office and assumed the duties of overseeing the development of all U.S. business.
No stranger to the golf industry, Danzi had a wealth of knowledge and experience prior to joining Lagardère Sports. He served as the Vice President of IMG’s golf division for eight years, before joining Wasserman as its Senior VP/Director of their golf division. He founded Forefront Sports Group in 2012, which was later acquired by Lagardère Sports signaling the agency’s expansion into golf.
Danzi recruited Spieth out of the University of Texas (he became a professional during his sophomore year) and has overseen all of Spieth’s business affairs ever since. The three-time major champion’s endorsement portfolio includes multi-million dollar relationships with AT&T, Rolex, Coca-Cola and Under Armour.
“It’s been a privilege having Jordan as part of the Lagardère Sports family for the last five years and watching him grow from a promising young player to someone who transcends the game,” said Steve Loy, Lagardère Sports President of Golf. “We are also grateful for Jay’s contributions over the years, in golf and other areas of our business. Representing professional golf players is a major pillar of our global business, and we will continue to grow our practice while providing first-class support to one of the top client rosters in the industry.”
“I am thankful to everyone at Lagardère Sports and am proud of what we accomplished together,” said Danzi. “I really enjoyed helping the agency build its U.S. business, but after careful consideration I feel that it’s time for a new adventure. I am excited about what is ahead for me, Jordan and my team, but I want to wish all my friends at Lagardère Sports’ the best of luck in the future.”
Although the loss of Danzi and one of golf’s brightest stars is a blow to the agency, it still maintains one of the top client lists in the industry with the likes of Phil Mickelson, John Rahm and Brandt Snedeker among others.