Charlie Evans promoted to president, CEO of FLW Outdoors

MINNEAPOLIS (Nov. 18, 2004) - Irwin L. Jacobs, chairman of FLW Outdoors, announced today that Charlie Evans has been promoted to the position of President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of FLW Outdoors. Evans replaces Charlie Hoover, who has resigned to take time off to be with his family and pursue new opportunities. Jacobs further announced the promotions of Kathy Fennel to Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (COO); Trisha Blake to the position of Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer (CMO); and Dave Washburn to Vice President of Communications.

"I want to personally thank Charlie Hoover for his service and commitment over the past nine-plus years to FLW Outdoors," Jacobs said. ﾒCharlie Hoover has played an integral part in helping to build FLW Outdoors into the world's largest premier tournament-fishing organization.

"Over the next several days, most FLW Outdoors business previously being conducted in our Bull Shoals, Ark., offices will be moved to FLW Outdoors' corporate headquarters in Benton, Ky. Aaron Hall, FLW Outdoors Sponsor Marketing Coordinator in charge of managing and recruiting our professional sponsorship angler teams, will continue his responsibilities at new offices in Bull Shoals."

FLW Outdoors will celebrate its 10th anniversary in 2005. The organization's flagship circuit - the Wal-Mart FLW Tour, the world's most lucrative bass-tournament series - is poised to begin its 10th season with an increased cash purse. And with the addition of the Wal-Mart FLW Kingfish Tour and Wal-Mart FLW Redfish Series, which will provide $3.6 million in cash payouts - the largest cash payouts ever for both kingfish and redfish competitive tournament fishing - plus increased cash payouts for the EverStart Series and Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League, the FLW Outdoors organization will provide the largest purse winnings in the history of the sport.

"There is no question that it will be the biggest and most successful tournament season ever for Wal-Mart FLW Outdoors, its participants and spectators," Jacobs said.

FLW Outdoors is the industry's premier provider of sport-fishing tournaments. With 214 tournaments creating 79,000 opportunities for anglers to fish across eight circuits, FLW Outdoors will pay out over $30 million in cash in 2005. Wal-Mart and many of Americaﾕs most respected companies support FLW Outdoors and its tournament trails. Wal-Mart has been the title sponsor of FLW Outdoors since 1997. For a complete list of FLW Outdoors sponsors and for more information about the premier products and services that they offer, please visit FLWOutdoors.comﾕs sponsor page.

+For more infomation, clickwww.FLW Outdoors.com.

Posted by DODGE at November 18, 2004 03:27 PM in Tournament (FLW)