The four Grand Slam tournaments in tennis are recognised as the premier events in the sport. Each is unique in its own way, but each serves to showcase the best of tennis to a worldwide audience and, together, they represent a major part of the history of the sport and its remarkable growth on a global scale. The Grand Slam Board (“GSB”) is responsible for the coordination and management of activities of mutual interest to the four Grand Slam tournaments, promoting the highest standards of sporting excellence and integrity in tennis
After 31 years in post, the incumbent Executive Director retired
GOALS
The GSB sought a new Executive Director to incorporate all the existing elements of responsibility of the role to date, but also to become a strategic and relationship leader as the Grand Slams move forward with ambition in the ever-changing business and sporting landscape
This important shift in emphasis saw the new ED take on a broader remit for the engagement of the wider global tennis stakeholder community and seek commercial, communication, and relationship opportunities that can benefit all members of the Grand Slam Board
The role of the Executive Director is a unique and central role supporting four separate and different organisations at the pinnacle of a global Olympic sport and working alongside a strong and well-established International Federation. As such, it was imperative that the search for the successor had global outlook and experience
PLACEMENT
Ugo Valensi, Executive Director, The Grand Slam Board
Ugo Valensi had built a reputation in the past decade of being at the forefront of the thinking, creating, and delivery of sports content globally. Following a career in financial and professional services, Ugo spent 10 years in sports marketing as a strategic advisor at Lagardère / Sportfive before becoming COO and later CEO, with a mandate to restructure and create a global sponsorship and media sales organisation.
Our shortlist was comprised of six candidates from six different countries, with aligned and challenger industries considered, but needing to demonstrate empathy with and understanding of the global tennis landscape. All candidates needed the ability to assess risk, to articulate commercial shared interest, to be a regulatory force, to support the shareholders and player representation, and to be a spokesperson for the sport.
