By Adrianna Outlaw | Tuesday, September 22, 2015

 

WTA CEO Stacey Allaster will retire from her post effective October 2, ending a six-year tenure as chief executive of women's tennis.

Photo credit: WTA Tour

There will soon be a new No. 1 on the WTA Tour.

Long-time WTA CEO Stacey Allaster will retire from her post effective October 2, the WTA announced today. Allaster said she plans to focus on her family and personal life following a "personal wake-up call about life."

A successor to the 52-year-old Canadian has not yet been named.

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The WTA says "the process to hire a new CEO is underway."

“Stacey has been an outstanding leader for the WTA and she will be missed throughout the industry,” said WTA Board Member Lisa Grattan. “We will turn our attention now to the future and we are confident her successor will deliver for fans, tournaments, and partners in the outstanding manner that they have come to expect. Our process to hire a new CEO is underway.”

A 15-year veteran of Tennis Canada, Allaster joined the WTA in January 2006 as its president and in July 2009 was promoted to chair and CEO.

Named by Forbes Magazine as one of the “Most Powerful Women in Sports”, she has led the WTA through significant growth, marked by fan-friendly improvements to the game, innovative use of data and technology, a focus on global growth with Asia Pacific being the strategic priority, enhancing the health and well-being of the athletes, while also championing gender equality.

Under her leadership, the WTA secured one billion dollars in diversified contracted revenues, including a landmark international media agreement that will maximize fan exposure to women’s tennis as the game is broadcast around the world. She also oversaw a record-setting WTA Finals in Istanbul and secured a strategic partnership with Singapore to stage the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global from 2014 to 2018. The WTA Finals Singapore is the largest financial partnership ever negotiated in the history of the WTA’s season finale.

Allaster said in a statement that the deaths of her brother-in-law and ATP CEO Brad Drewett prompted "a personal wake-up call about life" that led to her decision to step down as CEO.

“It’s been a privilege to lead the organization that Billie Jean King founded and to have worked with the world’s best female athletes, dedicated tournament promoters and passionate and professional WTA team members. For 25 years I have dedicated my professional life to the sport and I’m proud of the work I leave behind,” Allaster said in a statement. “But the recent loss of my brother-in-law and the ATP’s CEO, Brad Drewett, has provided a personal wake-up call about life, family and priorities and it is time for me to shift some time and energy that way.

"When I joined the WTA my goal was to leave the organization on a stronger footing and I feel a humble sense of pride in what we have all accomplished here. I have focused on what it means to be a champion and I have tried to be a strong role model for women to encourage success in the sports industry.”