The Sony Ericsson WTA Tour announced on Tuesday the surprising news that Larry Scott will step down from his position as CEO and Chairman.
Scott has resigned to become Commissioner of the NCAA’s (National Collegiate Athletic Association) PAC-10 Conference, effective July 1, 2009.
Scott will work with the Tour Board on the selection process for the next Chairman and CEO.
“With women’s professional tennis more popular than ever, the Tour in the strongest business position in its history and a fantastic senior management team in place, now is the right time for me to embrace a new challenge consistent with my family and personal goals, and leave room for the next generation of Tour leadership to take on new responsibilities,” said Scott.
During his six year tenure as Chairman & CEO of the Tour, Scott is credited with having engineered a remarkable turnaround for the sport, with the Tour and women’s professional tennis in a stronger position today than ever before in its history.
“Under Larry’s leadership, the Tour and our sport have grown over the past six years beyond anyone’s wildest expectations,” said Steve Simon, Tournament Board Representative and Chairman of the Tournament Council.
“As an organization and sport, we are positioned for continued success. We wish Larry the very best in his new role, and are looking forward to beginning the process of selecting a new CEO for the organization to lead us into the future.”
This is a bolt from the blue…
Maybe i’m not very well imformed, but his new job strikes me as down-sizing compared to being the head of an organisation which represents the three best known women in sport (Maria, Serena, and Venus).
The Pac-10, along with the Big East, Big Ten and SEC is a huge going concern and a incredibly powerful institution. And, sad to say, offers a more influential and higher profile position to a Larry Scott. If its about moving on up within the ambit of the American culture, both athletically and otherwise, Scott made the right move. If not, well….
I’m sure.
I was from a non-American perspective. Outside of America I don’t think many have heard of this Pac-10. I hadn’t. However, some people outside of the US are aware that college sports is a big thing over there.
I know that Larry Scott is thought of well because of bringing money to the tour (even by getting better revenues from countries that oppress women). I have never liked his emphasis on glamour as part of the SEWTA’s goal which he has stated many times. I think it is better for others in the tennis world and outside the tennis world to see the side of tennis such as the article on this site which shows Nadia Petrova helping out with Habitat for Humanity building houses. It seems like WTA needs to make sure we see the feminine side of players because we see athletes on the court. Athletes is what a sport is all about, not glamour, player parties and Sports Ill and other modeling gigs.