Chris Kermode, the tournament director at Queen’s Club and managing director of the ATP World Tour Finals, is set to be named the new CEO of the ATP, USA Today reports.
The ATP Board of Directors has battled back and forth since the passing of former CEO Brad Drewett in May, as the three tournament and three player representatives were unable to settle on a candidate.
Longtime ATP executive Mark Young was in contention for the position, but was unable to come up with enough support, as was the case when he applied for the spot at the same time Drewett did. Indian Wells Tournament director Steve Simon was also in the mix, as was former WTA executive and current NBA executive David Shoemaker, whom TENNIS.com has learned ended up being the second choice.
The ATP board was still at odds during part of the ATP World Tour Finals in London, which was played last week, but appears to have voted in an candidate.
Kermode will be the first CEO from Europe. Recent CEOs include Australia’s Drewett, American Adam Helfant, South African Etienne de Villiers, and American Mark Miles.
“Kermode’s a good dude,” Mike Bryan told USA Today. “I like him. He supports doubles. He’s done a great job at this event. He’s been good to us at Queen’s. We need a guy there to make the big decision when it needs to be done and break those [voting] ties.”