A source said the ATP BOD has begun interviewing exec search firms instead of choosing between one of two insiders for the open CEO position, as had been expected. While Commercial Dir & ATP Europe CEO Laurent Delanney and Chief Media Officer, Chief Legal Officer & ATP Americas CEO Mark Young are not necessarily eliminated, the move to likely hire a search firm is in stark contrast to the plan for months to choose one of the two as the next leader at the Wimbledon board meetings. The CEO position is open after the April death of Exec Chair & President Brad Drewett, who suffered from ALS. It is unclear why the BOD chose this path, though Young was seen as an unlikely choice because of the European tilt of the sport. The CEO acts as a potential tie-breaker vote between three tourney reps on the BOD and three players reps. So until a new CEO is in place, it is unlikely any major business will get through. For example, the players want a big increase in tour prize money, something tourney reps are likely to oppose. The tour in '07 used a search firm, Spencer Stuart, to find Adam Helfant for the Exec Chair & President position -- passing over Larry Scott, now Pac-12 Commissioner, and Drewett, who accomplished a major increase in Grand Slam prize money in his brief tenure. Helfant served three years and left on poor terms because of a contract dispute. Drewett was chosen without the aid of a search firm.
