Courtesy of International Swimming Hall of Fame, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Swimming World Magazine is merging with the International Swimming Hall of Fame with Brent Rutemiller in charge as the newly merged organizations’ Chief Executive Officer.
Bill Kent, chairman of the International Swimming Hall of Fame Board of Directors, announced, “The International Swimming Hall of Fame is entering into a new era with the retirement of Bruce Wigo and the merger with Swimming World.
With Brent Rutemiller as the new leader and with his generous gift of the Swimming World business to the International Swimming Hall of Fame, the combined organization will have a platform for sending the good message about the benefits of aquatic activities to the world at a new level.”
Rutemiller, CEO of Sports Publications International and owner of Swimming World Magazine, explained, “The driving force behind the merger is to combine the areas that the International Swimming Hall of Fame and Swimming World have in common. The merger is a synergy of strengths. Sports Publications International will remain a separate entity, but will spin off its Swimming World Magazine division to become the marketing arm of the International Swimming Hall of Fame. The merger is a classic example of the whole being greater than its parts.
I have been at every level of this community for over 45 years and I have never been more excited about the impact that this will have on aquatics world-wide. We will merge these institutions in a way that will benefit everyone in the swimming community. I see many positive outcomes from this merger.“
For his part, Wigo will remain and will transition from CEO to the Historian of the International Swimming Hall of Fame. “The International Swimming Hall of Fame has been a big part of my life. My work is not over as there are many stories still to be told about the history of aquatics. I look forward to supporting Brent and being part of the new ISHOF team as its Historian.”
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