WTA appoints Sandilands its Asia Pacific CEO

The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) has named Ryan Sandilands its Asia-Pacific region CEO.

Sandilands, who will be based out of a new WTA office in Singapore set to open in January 2014, will be responsible for driving the WTA's growth strategy throughout the Asia-Pacific region, reports Xinhua.

His responsibilities would include business development, government relations, marketing, operations and media distribution.

With the WTA Championships to be staged in Singapore from 2014 to 2018 and a record number of events in China and the Asia-Pacific, the naming of Sandilands represents a significant strategic investment to drive the growth of the world's leading sport for women in some of the fastest growing markets in the world.

Sandilands will begin in his new role in the coming months and report to Stacey Allaster, chairman and CEO of WTA.

"I am thrilled to welcome Ryan to our team and know that with his entrepreneurial experience across sports, entertainment and brand development in Asia he will build upon our success and take women's tennis to new heights throughout Asia-Pacific," Stacey Allaster said Monday.

"Since 2008 we have invested heavily in China, and with our crown jewel WTA Championships coming to Singapore, the announcement is another defining moment in the WTA's history to build our fan base, our brand and business in China, South East Asia and key markets across the region."

"The WTA is one of the fastest growing sports entertainment properties in Asia-Pacific, and I am honoured to join Stacey and her team to achieve the WTA's vision to be the most inspirational and exciting sport entertainment experience in Asia," Sandilands said of the announcement.

"I look forward to building upon the strength of WTA players and tournaments in the region to grow and engage our fan base across multiple platforms and further extend the popularity of women's tennis," he added.

Born in Scotland, Sandilands earned a BA in Marketing and Politics from the University of Strathclyde. Ryan, his wife Eva and children Lily and Charles will relocate from Beijing to Singapore in early 2014.