WTA CEO Stacey Allaster to resign for personal reasons

WTA CEO Stacey Allaster will resign for personal reasons effective Oct. 2.

WTA CEO Stacey Allaster will resign for personal reasons effective Oct. 2, she announced on Tuesday.

Allaster, 52, has served as the organization’s chair and CEO since 2009.

“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,” Allaster said in a statement. “For 25 years I have dedicated my professional life to the sport and I’m proud of the work I leave behind.“

Allaster said she was stepping down to spend more time with family.

• WERTHEIM: 50 parting thoughts from the 2015 U.S. Open

“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.“

Allaster joined the WTA in January 2006 as president and was promoted to chair and CEO in July 2009. Later that year, Forbesnamed her among the “most powerful women in sports.”

• Radwanska advances to second round of Pan Pacific Open

In its release announcing her resignation, the WTA credited Allaster for widespread fan-friendly improvements to tennis, an innovative use of data and technology, a focus on global growth with an emphasis on Asian Pacific countries and for advocating for equal prize money for women’s tennis players at six WTA events and the four Grand Slams.

“Stacey has been an outstanding leader for the WTA and she will be missed throughout the industry,” WTA board member Lisa Grattan said in a statement. “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.”

- Mike Fiammetta