Veteran bowling and capital equipment executive joins Funk to support international market development and strategic partnerships.
Maselheim, Germany — September 22, 2026 — Funk Bowling, the family-owned German manufacturer of bowling equipment, has named Ron Wood Vice President of International Sales and Strategic Partnerships.
Wood will work alongside Funk North America and the company’s international team to expand Funk’s presence in key global markets, strengthen its distribution network, and develop new strategic partnerships.
With more than 25 years of international commercial leadership experience, Wood brings a background that spans the bowling industry, industrial products, capital equipment, and global distribution.
Bringing Decades of International Experience to Funk Bowling
Wood has held senior leadership positions with multinational manufacturers, including QubicaAMF and AMF Products, serving in SVP, VP, and Divisional General Manager roles. Throughout his career, he has led sales and service organizations with full P&L responsibility across Europe, the Middle East, Asia-Pacific, and the Americas.
His international experience includes five years living abroad in Italy and the Netherlands and work in more than 50 countries, where he has helped develop distribution networks and strategic alliances.
Wood also brings a technical background to the role and is a named inventor on patented bowling equipment designs.
“Ron’s relationships and strategic perspective are exactly what we need as we take Funk into new markets,” said Karl-Heinz Funk, Managing Director of Karl Funk GmbH & Co. KG. “He understands this industry from the factory floor to the customer, and he shares our long-term view of how a family business should grow.”
Supporting Funk’s Continued Global Growth
As Vice President of International Sales and Strategic Partnerships, Wood will focus on international market development, distributor program design, and commercial strategy. He will work directly with Funk’s ownership and the Funk North America team led by Steve Kolarchick.
His appointment comes as Funk continues to grow its international presence and work with distributors, operators, and partners across a wide range of global markets.
“Funk builds outstanding equipment and has an owner group that thinks strategically about the future,” Wood said. “There’s a real opportunity to bring that product to more of the world, and to do it with partners who are in it for the long haul.”
About Ron Wood
Wood is based in the Raleigh-Durham area of North Carolina. He holds an MBA in International Marketing and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Virginia Tech, where he mentors MBA students through the Pamplin College of Business.
He also serves as Secretary/Treasurer of the Discover Durham Tourism Development Authority.
About Funk Bowling
Funk Bowling is an international bowling equipment manufacturer headquartered in Maselheim, Germany, with operations serving customers around the world. The family-owned company has a long history of bowling equipment manufacturing and innovation, including the development of string pinsetter technology and, more recently, the Funk Nexus scoring and immersive bowling platform.
Today, Funk provides bowling equipment and technology for traditional bowling centers, entertainment venues, hospitality properties, residential installations, and other bowling concepts worldwide.
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