Björn Nordberg, Chairman of the Professional Technical Committee and European Challenge Tour Sub-Committee for the past five years and one of the most respected administrators in European golf, has taken up a new position as a Non-Executive Director on The European Tour Board of Directors.
Nordberg, 54, has acquired a vast knowledge and experience of golf administration at club, national and international levels over a period of 40 years, and was responsible for establishing the first organised national boys programme in Sweden - a module which has become admired the world over.
An enthusiastic two handicap amateur, Nordberg took up the game at the age of seven and went on to win numerous amateur tournaments in his native country as well as representing Sweden once in 1971.
In 1982 he was elected to the Swedish Golf Federation (SGF) as a Member of the National Team/Youth Committee and was handed the responsibility of devising the national programme, as well as captaining the Swedish National Boys Team between 1982 and 1992.
In 1990 he was elected onto the European Golf Association (EGA) as a Member of the Championship Committee, captaining the EGA's Continental side which contested the Jacques Léglise Trophy against Great Britain and Ireland between 1992 and 1995.
In 1996 he was elected Chairman of the EGA's Professional Technical Committee (PTC) and became Chairman of the European Challenge Tour's PTC Sub-Committee the same year. In 2000, he was elected Executive Chairman of the EGA PTC.
Managing Director and part owner of a privately owned business in the Swedish golf trade, distributing golf products in that domestic market, Nordberg is also Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Swedish Golf Tour AB, owners and organisers of the Telia Tour, of which the Telia Grand Prix is part of the Challenge Tour schedule in 2001.
Ken Schofield, Executive Director of The European Tour, said: "Neil Coles, Chairman of the Tour's Board of Directors, and all the Directors, share my delight that Björn has accepted the invitation to serve on the Board.
"Björn has been immersed in the game from a very early age and has served the Swedish Golf Federation and the European Golf Association with great distinction in a variety of roles over the past two decades.
"During that time he has become recognised as an extremely able administrator, whose vision and enthusiasm have helped develop a Swedish national golf programme which is the envy of countries the world over.
"He has worked closely with the European Tour, through the Challenge Tour, since 1996, and his contribution to all aspects of European golf has been, and continues to be, immense."
Nordberg is married to Britta, an enthusiastic 20 handicapper, while his four sons, Olle, Joakim, Alexander and Filip have all followed in the family golfing traditions. Olle is now a professional, currently playing on the Asian PGA (Davidoff) Tour.
He said: "I am delighted to accept this position as a Non-Executive Director on The European Tour's Board of Directors. I have been privileged to work closely with the Tour through my association with the Challenge Tour in recent years, and it has been a great thrill to watch its development, just as I enjoyed the challenge of organising the first Swedish national programme back in 1982."
