Callaway brings back Harry Arnett as chief brand officer after seven years

Callaway Golf has rehired Harry Arnett as senior vice president and chief brand officer. The company announced the move in a press release on Monday, October 19, and MyGolfSpy and Golf Digest followed with coverage this week.

The job

Per Callaway's release, Arnett will lead the company's global brand strategy and demand creation. That role pulls together brand building, creative communications and all consumer-facing strategy, with stated goals of strengthening Callaway's connection with golfers, building momentum around its products and growing market share.

This is a return trip. Arnett joined Callaway from TaylorMade in June 2012 and left on August 31, 2019, according to MyGolfSpy, by which point he was executive vice president of global marketing and Callaway brands. He went on to launch the apparel brand Municipal with Mark Wahlberg.

What Callaway says

CEO Chip Brewer credited Arnett's first stint with a more modern, consumer-focused approach to brand building. In the release, Brewer said Callaway's U.S. hard goods dollar market share, as reported by Golf DataTech, rose more than 1,000 basis points to 24.0% during that period, that Callaway held the No. 1 U.S. club brand position from 2015 to 2020, and that its climb in golf ball share started then.

"I've long believed Callaway is one of the truly iconic brands in all of sports," Arnett said. He said the team had sharpened the company's focus on golf and that the opportunity now is to "create new energy around the brand" and deepen its connection with golfers.

MyGolfSpy's Tony Covey reads the hire as Callaway wanting golfers excited about the brand again. He also notes at least one significant addition to Callaway's tour operations team, which suggests a push to rebuild tour credibility that he says took a hit from LIV.

What it means for your bag

Nothing changes on the shelf today. Arnett's first run came with loud, fast marketing, so expect a sharper push around Callaway's next launches. That includes the Paradym AI Smoke line, which retailers are already advertising as back in stock. If you're shopping a driver or a ball, the specs are what they were last week. Watch the next product cycle and Callaway's tour staff moves for the first signs of his work.