Steve Simon will relinquish his function as chief govt of the WTA Tour however will grow to be govt chairman as soon as his successor has been appointed.
Simon has been each chief govt and chairman since 2015, however the roles can be break up to create “higher focus” on the WTA’s objectives.
His place has been below scrutiny since final month’s season-ending WTA Finals in Cancun, the place world quantity two Aryna Sabalenka stated she felt “disrespected” by the best way the occasion was organised.
The 18-time Grand Slam singles champion Martina Navratilova additionally stated it could be time for brand new management.
“It may be exhausting for Steve to remain within the job by some means as a result of the whole lot is pointing the opposite approach proper now,” she instructed Amazon Prime.
However Simon will nonetheless play a serious half within the WTA’s future. He’ll give attention to governance, integrity and the WTA’s strategic pursuits – and the brand new chief govt will report back to him.
“This previous summer season I shared with the WTA board that if the WTA goes to stay on the forefront of ladies’s sports activities, we have to undergo a full evaluation of our organisational construction,” Simon instructed BBC Sport.
“So they aren’t tied to something that occurred in Cancun or additional perceptions that it hasn’t been the best of years.
“I do assume it is in one of the best pursuits of the organisation as a result of it is grown a lot over these final eight years. The mixed function – you are going to begin lacking some issues, there’s solely so many hours within the day.”
Different prime gamers have expressed grievances in regards to the variety of tournaments they’re anticipated to play, scheduling and maternity cowl.
And in March, world primary Iga Swiatek stated the WTA ought to have provided higher assist to Ukrainian gamers from the beginning of the Russian invasion.
However Simon says he “actually hopes” he retains the arrogance of the gamers.
“In case you have a look at how the enterprise is rising and the way the whole lot is progressing, I would definitely hope so,” he stated. “We’ll clearly discover out as we proceed to go ahead.”
Micky Lawler, who has served as president of the WTA since 2015, will go away the organisation on the finish of the 12 months to “pursue new alternatives”.
The hunt for a brand new chief govt is being supported by world govt search agency Korn Ferry, with Simon eager to see a girl fill the function.
“I feel our choice is that we do discover a feminine candidate – I feel it is smart. I feel it will be in one of the best long-term pursuits of the organisation, sure.”
The WTA, hindered by the Covid pandemic, has misplaced $31m (£24.7m) up to now two monetary years, however has since obtained funding of $150m (£119.5m) from non-public fairness agency CVC Capital Companions.
WTA Ventures has not too long ago been established as the brand new industrial arm of the organisation, and Simon may also proceed to chair its board.
In June, the WTA pledged to safe equal prize cash by 2033 at just about all occasions, however in any other case it has been a turbulent 12 months for Simon.
Sabalenka stated she didn’t “really feel secure” at occasions on the courtroom in Cancun, which had solely been opened to the gamers the day earlier than the WTA Finals started. The Mexican resort was solely introduced because the venue in early September.
And in April, the WTA accepted the Chinese language authorities wouldn’t meet its request for an investigation into the sexual assault allegations made by former participant Peng Shuai, and stated tournaments might resume within the nation.
When the WTA introduced the suspension of all Chinese language tournaments in December 2021, Simon had earned a lot respect from many quarters.
Novak Djokovic known as it “very daring and really brave”, and although Simon’s hope of extracting concessions from the Chinese language authorities all the time appeared unbelievable, he says he has no regrets.
“With Peng, we stood up for one in all our athletes,” he stated. “I would not change any of these discussions or selections and I feel we proceed to make progressive selections that solely put the organisation going ahead in a constructive path.”
