ERSA Pro Stringer Issue 1-2018 ProStringer_0118_web | Page 26

www.ersa-stringers.com INDUSTRY NEWS Tennis Europe appoints new CEO Tennis Europe has announced the appointment of Thomas Hammerl as Chief Executive Officer with immediate effect. Hammerl, 45, is a former CEO of the Austrian Tennis Federation, where he was responsible for overseeing the organisation’s sponsoring, commercial operations and communications and served as Davis & Fed Cup Team Manager. He has also served on the Junior Tennis Committees of both Tennis Europe and the International Tennis Federation (ITF) in recent years. Tennis Europe President Vladimir Dmitriev commented, “Tennis Europe is excited to begin a fresh chapter with the new CEO. Thomas’ extensive experience with national federations, his strong marketing background and profound understanding of the tennis ecosystem made him stand out as the ideal candidate to ensure Tennis Europe’s continued growth, to oversee the implementation of a new business strategy and to continue the excellent work of our dedicated staff.” “I am delighted and extremely motivated to join Tennis Europe,” said Hammerl. “I am pleased that the Board was convinced by my pledge to focus on leadership, communication, sponsorship, development and integrity. Together with the President, Board and staff, I look forward to executing an ambitious new strategy for the prosperity and growth of Tennis Europe and its member nations.” The appointment followed a 10-week recruitment process that attracted almost 200 applications. An Assessment Committee carried out interviews with an initial shortlist before meeting the final four candidates for face-to-face interviews in Zürich, after which the final decision was taken by the Board of Management. The Board also announced that Magnus Grönvold would be promoted to the new role of Chief Operating Officer, working closely with the new CEO at the regional association’s headquarters in Basel, Switzerland. Tennis Europe flagship senior competition dates and venues confirmed Tennis Europe has announced the dates and venues for two of the region’s flagship senior tennis competitions – the European Senior Championships and European Senior Club Championships. The announcement follows the completion of an open bidding process, which led to three-year agreements with the new hosts of each event. The European Senior Championships will be moving to Pörtschach in Austria, during the week of 11-17 June. The Regional Closed (RC1) event is Europe’s most prestigious in terms of ranking points and will see all men’s and ladies’ age categories in action (35-85). After a one-year break, the European Senior Club Championships are heading back to the award-winning La Manga Club resort in Spain, where the event was successfully held from 2012 to 2016. The event will be staged over two weeks, with the ‘Super Senior’ 60-75 age groups in action first, from 9-14 September. They will be followed by the 35-55 age categories, from 17-22 September. One of the biggest events in European tennis, last year’s competition attracted a total of 92 teams, comprised of 470 players. The tournament is open to national club champions and runners-up from each of Tennis Europe’s 50 member nations. Further information including the tournament fact sheets will be released in due course. For further information, please contact Nadja Koran: [email protected] 26 ERSA PRO STRINGER // ISSUE 1-2018