Tennis-Indian Wells executive Simon appointed WTA chief

By Pritha Sarkar
Oct 5 (Reuters) - Steve Simon has been named CEO of the
Women's Tennis Association (WTA) after Stacey Allaster stepped
down for personal reasons, the governing body's board of
directors said on Monday.
Simon has been tournament director and chief operating
officer of the BNP Paribas (PARIS:BNPP) Open at Indian Wells since 2004 and
during his tenure oversaw the growth of the event into the
largest outside the four majors.
"I am humbled, and at the same time very excited, about the
opportunity that has been presented to me by the board," Simon
said in a statement released by the WTA.
"I will be focused on building upon the successful platforms
that have been put in place by my predecessors, Stacey Allaster
and Larry Scott, with a sole focus on driving excellence and
innovation, while creating a premium experience for the fans."
During her six-year tenure, Allaster secured a record number
of new sponsors, enhanced the health and well-being of athletes
by streamlining the calendar and saw a jump in TV viewership and
attendance at the sport's biggest events.
The 52-year-old Canadian also played an instrumental role in
securing equal prize money for women tennis players at six WTA
events and all four grand slams.
Simon's appointment was endorsed by the big names in women's
tennis.
"Steve Simon is the right person for the job. His track
record is marked by success. He is thoughtful, respectful and he
has excellent business judgment," American great and WTA founder
Billie Jean King said.
World number one Serena Williams added: "I know how much he
cares about the opinions of the players. He's a good listener
and he has our best interests in mind."
Simon is expected to take up his appointment with the WTA
full time from Nov. 30.