ATP World Tour Introduces Helfant As Exec Chair & President

Helfant Earns Praise For Brand Understanding

SHAKING THINGS UP: ESPN.com's Peter Bodo wrote the ATP was "looking less for a presiding senior strategist than a young pup eager to build a reputation ... and perhaps an empire." One of the "most striking aspects of this choice is that, once again, the ATP has decided to go outside the game for its leadership." Bodo: "I've always been a little skeptical of the 'shake things up' school of thought, partly because the personal power of the ATP [Exec Chair] is drastically limited." And Helfant's resume "doesn't exactly scream 'visionary.'" But he will "have time to develop the insights and operational expertise of an insider," which is "something he'll need in order to focus on doing the right things at the right time in the right way." Bodo: "If I were in his shoes, the first person I would call for advice on the road ahead would be [WTA Tour Chair & CEO] Larry Scott" (ESPN.com, 1/12). Browns Vice Chair and former IMG CEO Bob Kain said of Helfant, "He has been around tennis, but he hasn't been in the thick of tennis politics. Being an American, he needs a very European (top) executive right away. It is a global job, and you don't want to appear too American" (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 1/12 issue).

CHALLENGES RIGHT OFF THE BAT: TENNISWEEK.com reported the “most immediate challenge Helfant and the ATP face is recruiting a new global sponsor.” Mercedes-Benz, which had served as an ATP sponsor since ’96, did not renew its sponsorship deal after last year, and while the tour has “maintained since last September that it is ‘currently in discussions with a number of potential new sponsorship partners’ securing a title sponsor in a sagging global economy may well prove to be problematic.” Meanwhile, there is some speculation that ATP Int'l Group CEO Brad Drewett had the “inside track for the job as some sources said the ATP was wary of hiring someone outside of tennis to head the Tour in the aftermath of the de Villiers’ sometimes tempestuous tenure.” However, Helfant’s “experience in sport -- as well as the fact he is said to have impressed the ATP during his interview in New York City last month -- were key factors in his hiring” (TENNISWEEK.com, 1/12).

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