Tennis organization serves up new CEO

ST. PETERSBURG — Steve Simon, tournament director and chief operating officer of the BNP Paribas Open Indian Wells Tennis Tournament, has been named CEO of the women's tour.

Simon will begin his duties at the Women's Tennis Association immediately as he winds down his role at Indian Wells, according to a release. He replaces former CEO Stacey Allaster, who resigned last month for personal reasons, according to a separate statement. Allaster was named president of the St. Petersburg-based group in 2006 and was promoted to CEO and chair in 2009. She's been credited with leading the organization through a growth spurt in revenues and popularity the last five years.

A former collegiate tennis player who competed in mixed doubles at Wimbledon in 1981, Simon joined the Indian Wells, Calif., tournament in 1989, after working with Adidas for six years. He started in a sponsorship sales role at Indian Wells and he became tournament director and COO in 2004.

“Steve Simon is the right person for the job,” WTA founder Billie Jean King says in a press release. “His track record is marked by success. He is thoughtful, respectful, and he has excellent business judgment.”