Andrew Abdo has been appointed the new Tennis Australia Chief Executive Officer following an extensive global search.
Abdo will succeed Craig Tiley, who earlier this year announced he will depart Tennis Australia to take up the position of Chief Executive Officer of the United States Tennis Association (USTA).
Abdo, who like Tiley is also from South Africa, has been working with Australia’s National Rugby League since 2013, initially as chief commercial officer and, since 2020, as CEO. He played a pivotal role in the league navigating the COVID-19 pandemic and its expansion and development. Channel 9 in Australian described the announcement “that few saw coming” here https://youtu.be/90Vc8BYBN4g?si=0RIGPos99e-ftUFN
The incoming CEO said he was honoured to take on the role at an exciting time for Australian tennis.
“Tennis Australia has a unique role in Australian sport. The Australian Open is already one of the leading sporting events in the world. The opportunity is to keep evolving it – as a global event, as a fan experience, and as a platform that brings more people into the sport.
“What excites me about this role is the opportunity to grow participation, strengthen development pathways and ensure success at the elite level – so that more young Australians pick up a racquet and stay lifelong participants.
“I am excited to build off the incredible success and strength of Tennis Australia to work with an amazing team and to play my part taking the sport to the next level in Australia and on the global stage,” Abdo said.
Tennis Australia Chair Chris Harrop said the appointment marks an important milestone for the organisation.
“Following a highly competitive search that attracted more than 150 candidates, Andrew Abdo stood out because of his strong track record of leadership in a high-profile sports organisation and the impressive impact he has had from community level through to the elite levels of the game. He is well placed to lead tennis in Australia into its next phase.
“We also acknowledge Craig Tiley’s extraordinary contribution over more than two decades with Tennis Australia. Under his leadership, the organisation has become globally recognised for its innovation, inclusivity and world-class events, highlighted by the continued growth of the Australian Open,” Harrop said.
Tiley is full of praise for his successor.
“Andrew Abdo is an outstanding appointment, and I am confident he will continue to build on this strong foundation.
“The sport in Australia is in excellent shape. Tennis is one of the nation’s most popular sports, and participation is growing. We have a great group of players performing at the highest level and a world-class team developing the next generation of talented players and coaches.
“Leading this team has been the privilege of my life. I am incredibly proud that Tennis Australia is now recognised globally as the player’s partner and the benchmark for the sport, events and entertainment,” Tiley said.
“While I look forward to the challenge at the USTA, my immediate and total focus is ensuring a smooth transition and leaving the sport, the business and the team in the best possible shape.”
Tennis Australia engaged global executive search firm Egon Zehnder to lead the recruitment process.
