Downey’s illustrious profession on the group’s helm, which introduced historic success each on and off the court docket, will finish on December 31, 2023.
After an illustrious profession headlined by 15 years as Tennis Canada’s President and Chief Govt Officer, cut up over two phrases, Michael Downey has introduced he’ll retire on the finish of December 2023. Underneath his management, the group has skilled success each on and off the court docket that’s unparalleled in its 133-year historical past.
“Being Chief Govt of Tennis Canada has been my dream job,” Downey commented. “I used to be downright fortunate to have held this coveted management place not as soon as, however twice. I take nice satisfaction in our extremely proficient, gender and city-balanced senior administration workforce that can make sure the daring ambitions of our new strategic plan will likely be achieved. I’ve additionally been impressed by younger, proud Canadians named Milos, Genie, Gaby, Aleks, Vasek, Rebecca, Félix, Bianca, Denis, Leylah Annie and, in fact, the elder statesman, Daniel. They’re all family names due to their on and off-court brilliance. However, their best legacy would be the inspiration they supply to the long run era of Canadian expertise that can, in the end, guarantee Canada stays a world-leading tennis nation.”
Downey’s first time period as President and CEO, from 2004 to 2013, noticed him develop a daring plan to diversify and improve income generated by the Nationwide Financial institution Open offered by Rogers to reinvest in excessive efficiency and tennis growth in Canada. In 2007, he prompted the Board of Administrators to speculate over $1 million yearly in excessive efficiency which led to the formation of the Nationwide Tennis Centre offered by Rogers in Montreal and regional U14 applications in Toronto, Montreal and later Vancouver. The likes of Bianca Andreescu, Eugenie Bouchard, Milos Raonic and Félix Auger-Aliassime skilled on the Nationwide Tennis Centre earlier than graduating to the skilled excursions.
“Michael has championed Tennis Canada by main development intervals for each our tennis growth and business companies and he efficiently steered the group by the turbulence of the COVID-19 pandemic,” commented Peter Kruyt, Chair of the Board, Tennis Canada. “Underneath his management, we now have helped develop Canadian gamers to win a number of junior Grand Slams and, for the primary time ever, a Canadian singles participant gained the US Open and our very personal Nationwide Financial institution Open offered by Rogers. Final November, Staff Canada gained the Davis Cup for the primary time in our historical past, lending credence to our imaginative and prescient that Canada grow to be a world-leading tennis nation. Due to Michael, Tennis Canada has by no means been in higher form, nor had a greater administration workforce than right now, and we’re grateful to him for this legacy.”
From 2013 to 2017, Downey was appointed to supervise British Tennis as Chief Govt Officer of the Garden Tennis Affiliation (LTA). There, he led the event of a brand new strategic plan targeted on reversing a decade-long decline in grassroots participation. With a powerful give attention to parks tennis and attracting younger households to golf equipment, British Tennis achieved almost two million month-to-month leisure gamers.
Downey returned to Tennis Canada in July 2017. Two years later, the group celebrated its first Canadian Nationwide Financial institution Open winner in 50 years and a first-ever Grand Slam singles champion when Andreescu beat tennis legend Serena Williams in finals at Sobeys Stadium and Arthur Ashe Stadium respectively. That November, Staff Canada superior to the Davis Cup ultimate, shedding to host nation Spain.
Regardless of the uncertainty caused by COVID-19, Downey efficiently steered the group by the worldwide pandemic, even managing to safe a brand new 10-year company partnership with Nationwide Financial institution to grow to be the title accomplice of Canada’s ATP and WTA 1000 occasions in Toronto and Montreal. The settlement, which is the one longest within the historical past of tennis in Canada, additionally noticed a rise in Nationwide Financial institution’s assist for the event of the game in Canada with important funding in flagship applications.
In 2022, Tennis Canada loved a banner 12 months, highlighted by the return of record-breaking, full-capacity Nationwide Financial institution Open occasions in Toronto and Montreal in addition to Staff Canada turning into World Champions after securing its first-ever Davis Cup crown, beating Australia within the ultimate in Malaga, Spain. The group additionally accelerated its capability constructing efforts as the primary 4 year-round tennis court docket tasks had been accomplished by the Yr-Spherical Group Tennis Court docket Program offered by Rogers; an initiative initially envisioned and pushed by Downey with the goal of creating the game extra accessible to Canadians.
A seek for a brand new Chief Govt Officer is already underway, led by Tennis Canada’s Board of Administrators and with the assist of a number one exterior recruitment agency.
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