LONDON: The All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) confirmed on Tuesday that its chairman Philip Brook will be stepping down from his post in December 2019. Brook has been at the helm of the annual Wimbledon Championships since December 2010, which will ensure that his tenure will last nine years precisely. His successor will be determined by the spring of 2019, thereby ensuring a suitable period of handover.
Brook’s statement to AELTC members which was accessed by British newspaper, The Daily Mail read: ‘It is my intention to step down at the AGM in 2019 and therefore, if re-elected at this year’s AGM, I expect to serve only one year of my three-year term.
‘Regarding the election of my successor, the process will take place after the Australian Open and we expect to be able to announce the proposed new chairman by mid-March at the latest, thereby allowing a period of around eight or nine months working together before I hand over the reins in December 2019.’
Brook’s tenure has been characterised by crucial changes to the Wimbledon competition which include the upgrading of Court No.1, which is the second largest arena at the AETLC after Centre Court, resulting in the addition of a retractable roof above the court. The competition has won prestigious accolades such as the Brand of the Year at the 2014 BT Sport Industry Awards.
The announcement of his resignation comes at a time when AELTC is gunning for a landmark UK£65 million ($83.3 million) purchase of the adjacent 73-acre Wimbledon Park Golf Club. The decision is expected to finalised in December this year through a voting process by club members.
