Allaster Takes Reins At WTA Tour
The Sony Ericsson WTA Tour has announced the appointment of Stacey Allaster, WTA President since 2006, as the new Chairman and CEO of the women’s tennis Tour succeeding the recently departed Larry Scott.
Allaster will begin her new role immediately and will continue to be based at the Tour’s US headquarters in St. Petersburg, Florida.
The naming of Allaster culminates an international search undertaken by the Tour’s Board of Directors and led by global executive recruitment firm Korn/Ferry International.
The 46-year old Allaster succeeds Scott, who held the position for six years prior to becoming the Commissioner of NCAA’s PAC-10 Conference.
Recognized as one of the most internationally successful female sports executives, Allaster came to the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour on 1st January, 2006 in the newly-created role of President, responsible for the Tour’s operations, business development, television, new media and tournament and player relations.
Since joining the Tour, Allaster has played an integral role in a number of groundbreaking Tour achievements and is credited with helping to take the business of women’s professional tennis to unprecedented heights, including: the passage of the Tour’s landmark Roadmap reform plan, which has resulted in a 40% increase in prize money, $750 million of new stadium investment and a healthier calendar better able to ensure that fans see top players competing more often on the Tour’s biggest stages.
Allaster has also been responsible for the implementation of more fan friendly innovations to the sport than in its prior history, including working with leaders of other tennis governing bodies to bring electronic line calling to the sport, as well as on-court coaching, pre-match player interviews, interviews with coaches during matches and a new doubles scoring format.
Prior to joining the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour, Allaster served as Vice President and Tournament Director at Tennis Canada where she is credited with leading a professional tennis resurgence during her tenure.
A consummate tennis professional, Allaster has held every position in the sport of tennis, from a junior to a collegiate player, to a Tournament Director of prestigious Masters Series and Premier Events, to Tour President.
