Arlen Kantarian, Chief Executive, Professional Tennis at the USTA, today announced a reorganization for the professional tennis unit of the USTA designed to create one of the most effective and efficient organizations in professional sports and entertainment.
The reorganization creates four new divisions, each spearheaded by a senior executive. As part of the restructuring, it was announced that David Newman will join the USTA from Transfusion I.P. (and formerly from the NFL and MTV), to head the new Marketing and Communications division.
Reporting to Kantarian, the four divisions include:
‘Professional tennis and the US Open have experienced significant growth in the past year, with new records set for attendance, TV viewership, and revenues,’ said Kantarian. ‘This new structure, headed by some of today’s strongest sports executives, is the next step in taking the USTA and the sport of tennis to a new level in the sports and entertainment marketplace.’
‘The growth of the Professional Tennis unit under Arlen’s leadership has been unprecedented,’ said USTA Executive Director Rick Ferman. ‘This new team will build on the current momentum, develop new initiatives for the sport, and generate even greater resources to help accomplish our true mission–to promote and develop the growth of the game.’
Reporting to Kantarian, the new responsibilities and key positions are as follows:
Business Operations/Sales: Pierce O’Neil has been named Chief Business Officer, overseeing all broadcast, sponsorship, advanced media, and merchandise sales for the USTA. In addition, O’Neil will be responsible for the USTA’s membership and special events departments, and will oversee new business development activities.
O’Neil joined the USTA in 1995, and since then has led its marketing and revenue-producing areas, helping to virtually double the USTA’s revenues. Reporting to O’Neil will be Ezra Kucharz, managing director of advanced media; JoAnne Fairchild, director of sponsorship; Sarah Cummins, director of merchandising; and Temple Elliott, director of membership.
Tournament Operations: Jim Curley has been named Managing Director, Tournament Operations, overseeing all operational areas of the US Open (serving as Tournament Director), USA Team events (including Davis Cup, Fed Cup, Olympics teams), and Pro Circuits (the world’s largest professional tennis developmental league with over 100 events). He will also oversee the officials and rules departments for professional events.
The Harvard University graduate joined the USTA in July after 18 years at IMG, managing some of the most successful tennis events throughout the world. He has also served on the WTA Tour Board of Directors and has had athlete management relationships with over a dozen professional players. Reporting to Jim Curley will be David Brewer, senior director, pro tournaments; Jeff Ryan, director, USA Team Events; and Brian Earley, US Open referee.
Facility Operations: Daniel Zausner has been named Managing Director, Facility Operations, overseeing the day-to-day management and development of the USTA National Tennis Center, the world’s largest public tennis facility and the home of the US Open, as well as managing all ticket operations.
Under Zausner’s leadership, the division will also look to create new opportunities to effectively use the venue for additional sports and entertainment related events throughout the year.
Zausner joined the USTA in August after a 17-year career in venue management, including six years as a senior vice president with industry leader Ogden Entertainment, where he managed venues throughout the world, including the Arrowhead Pond-Anaheim, Target Center-Minneapolis and Olympic Stadium-Sydney.
Marketing and Communications: David Newman will join the USTA as Managing Director, Marketing and Communications, overseeing the marketing, advertising, promotion, public relations and publishing activities for the USTA.
Newman is the latest addition to the USTA Professional Tennis management team, and will begin his position in December. The Columbia University graduate spent nine years at the National Football League, where he was most recently vice president, marketing and events, developing the NFL’s integrated strategic marketing and event initiatives.
Prior to that Newman was director of promotion development for MTV, and has also held public relations and promotions positions with Madison Square Garden Network and Ogilvy and Mather.
In addition, Michelle Difilippantonio joins the USTA as Director of Marketing, reporting to Newman. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and the Harvard Business School, Difilippantonio has extensive experience in consumer products and sports marketing, holding senior marketing positions with Nabisco, the NBA (Director of Marketing, Consumer Products) and the XFL (Vice President, Integrated Marketing).
The United States Tennis Association owns and stages the US Open and various tour events, and selects the teams that compete in Davis Cup, Fed Cup and the Olympic Games.
The USTA is the national governing body for the sport of tennis in America and is a non-profit organization with more than 625,000 members. It invests all its resources to promote and develop the growth of tennis, from the grass roots to the professional levels.
For further information please contact:
Bruce Levy
USTA Assistant Director of Communications
Tel: +1 (914) 696-7244
Email: Levy@usta.com
Peter Land
Edelman Public Relations
Tel: +1(212) 704-8105
Email: Peter_Land@edelman.com