Valerie Camillo Appointed as New Chairperson of WTA

• Valerie Camillo has been appointed the new Chairperson of the WTA, effective November 17
• She succeeds Steve Simon, who has headed the association for almost 10 years
• The change marks a move toward stronger business focus and modern governance

Women's Tennis Association (WTA) has appointed Valerie Camillo as its new Chairperson, effective November 17. She succeeds Steve Simon, who was in the position for nearly a decade. The appointment is part of a transition towards more commercial focus and enhanced governance.

Valerie has over 20 years of sports leadership experience in the United States. She first worked as a management consultant before serving in the NBA's Team Marketing and Business Operations.

She also served as Chief Revenue and Marketing Officer with the Washington Nationals and as President and CEO of the Philadelphia Flyers and Wells Fargo Center.

Her experience in revenue growth, fan engagement, and high-ticket sales aligns well with the WTA's goals of global growth and long-term financial growth.

Valerie becomes CEO at a pivotal moment for the WTA. The organization is preparing an antitrust claim brought by the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) and is in negotiations with the ATP to merge commercial assets. Continuing priorities are player welfare, scheduling, and equitable revenue sharing.

According to the WTA, its commercial arm WTA Ventures, experienced a successful business result overall, with revenues up by 25 percent in the year 2024. Valerie's leadership is likely to catalyze more progress in this field with new thinking about branding, partnership, and international connections.

While challenges remain in going through legal choppy waters, or assessing creative energy versus established traditions, an opportunity to align WTA leadership can lead to continued growth.

So long as Valerie makes wise use of her business mind, her leadership will provide a good opportunity for women’s tennis to move forward and receive more attention around the world.