Tony Lewis To Bat For World Snooker
World Snooker Ltd has appointed businessman and sporting legend Tony Lewis CBE as non-executive chairman.
Richard Relton, World Snooker's chief executive, sees the appointment of Lewis as a major coup for the sport, saying: 'It is very rare to find someone who has followed outstanding sporting success with an equally successful broadcasting and business career.
'Tony’s commercial experience spans a wide range of sports and I am confident that his combination of talents is going to make a real contribution to the future success of professional snooker.'
Jim McMahon, a director of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA), is equally enthusiastic about Lewis’s appointment.
Speaking on behalf of the WPBSA, he said: 'Tony Lewis has a formidable reputation and a great track record. We all admired his success in bringing the Ryder Cup to Wales and his depth of commercial and sports experience is just what we need to bring a fresh, new dimension to snooker. This is a popular choice all round.'
A double Blue at Cambridge, Lewis went on to play club rugby for Neath, Pontypool and Gloucester before a knee injury forced him to concentrate on his cricket career.
In 1969, he led Glamorgan through an unbeaten season to a County Championship title and was the first Glamorgan player to captain England in a Test match. He then joined an elite group of players to lead his side to victory on his Test debut.
He has been a respected sports reporter for broadsheet newspapers and sports magazines since the early 1960s, covering rugby, cricket and golf, and is a well-known broadcaster on BBC TV and radio.
Lewis has considerable and diverse business experience becoming a leading figure in tourism. He has been a member of the CBI Tourism Action Group, a Board member with the British Tourist Authority and was twice re-appointed chairman of the Wales Tourist Board.
He was chairman of the successful Welsh bid for the 2010 Ryder Cup and was awarded the CBE in 2002 for his services to sports, broadcasting, and his home country of Wales.
Lewis has often applied his skills in a voluntary capacity and holds a number of honorary titles. He was a founder member of the Sports Council of Wales, chaired the Welsh Arts and Business organisation and has been president of the MCC.
During his tenure as chairman of Glamorgan County Cricket Club, the club left behind its familiar position at the bottom of the table, becoming Sunday League champions in 1993 and county champions in 1997.
Lewis is relishing the prospect of working with World Snooker. He said: 'Snooker is one of those remarkable sports that appeals to all ages and sexes. Right now, with new sponsors and rising stars, it is definitely on an upward trajectory, so it is important that we keep the momentum going.
'I am joining at an exciting time in the sport's development and I am looking forward to meeting the players, the media and everyone involved. I already know that I will be working with a group of very good people and I predict great things ahead.'
For further information please contact:
World Snooker
Media Office
T: 0117-317-8200
W: www.worldsnooker.com
Richard Relton, World Snooker's chief executive, sees the appointment of Lewis as a major coup for the sport, saying: 'It is very rare to find someone who has followed outstanding sporting success with an equally successful broadcasting and business career.
'Tony’s commercial experience spans a wide range of sports and I am confident that his combination of talents is going to make a real contribution to the future success of professional snooker.'
Jim McMahon, a director of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA), is equally enthusiastic about Lewis’s appointment.
Speaking on behalf of the WPBSA, he said: 'Tony Lewis has a formidable reputation and a great track record. We all admired his success in bringing the Ryder Cup to Wales and his depth of commercial and sports experience is just what we need to bring a fresh, new dimension to snooker. This is a popular choice all round.'
A double Blue at Cambridge, Lewis went on to play club rugby for Neath, Pontypool and Gloucester before a knee injury forced him to concentrate on his cricket career.
In 1969, he led Glamorgan through an unbeaten season to a County Championship title and was the first Glamorgan player to captain England in a Test match. He then joined an elite group of players to lead his side to victory on his Test debut.
He has been a respected sports reporter for broadsheet newspapers and sports magazines since the early 1960s, covering rugby, cricket and golf, and is a well-known broadcaster on BBC TV and radio.
Lewis has considerable and diverse business experience becoming a leading figure in tourism. He has been a member of the CBI Tourism Action Group, a Board member with the British Tourist Authority and was twice re-appointed chairman of the Wales Tourist Board.
He was chairman of the successful Welsh bid for the 2010 Ryder Cup and was awarded the CBE in 2002 for his services to sports, broadcasting, and his home country of Wales.
Lewis has often applied his skills in a voluntary capacity and holds a number of honorary titles. He was a founder member of the Sports Council of Wales, chaired the Welsh Arts and Business organisation and has been president of the MCC.
During his tenure as chairman of Glamorgan County Cricket Club, the club left behind its familiar position at the bottom of the table, becoming Sunday League champions in 1993 and county champions in 1997.
Lewis is relishing the prospect of working with World Snooker. He said: 'Snooker is one of those remarkable sports that appeals to all ages and sexes. Right now, with new sponsors and rising stars, it is definitely on an upward trajectory, so it is important that we keep the momentum going.
'I am joining at an exciting time in the sport's development and I am looking forward to meeting the players, the media and everyone involved. I already know that I will be working with a group of very good people and I predict great things ahead.'
For further information please contact:
World Snooker
Media Office
T: 0117-317-8200
W: www.worldsnooker.com