(Toronto) Gavin Ziv has succeeded Michael Downey as CEO of Tennis Canada, the organization’s chairman of the board, Peter Kruyt, announced Tuesday.

Ziv, who is 48 years old, has been with Tennis Canada for over 25 years, most recently as Tournament Manager. His mandate included directing both parts of the National Bank Open, category 1000 events on the ATP and WTA circuits in Montreal and Toronto.

He also played an important role in the negotiations in favor of equal purses for WTA players at the National Bank Open starting in 2027.

“We have become a dominant country in tennis and I look forward to building on this momentum to chart the best possible future for tennis in Canada. In collaboration with the Board of Directors and our passionate staff, we will continue to raise winning ambitions, enhance the fan experience through digital technologies, facilitate access to year-round facilities and create a safe and inclusive environment for all,” said Ziv.

Ziv also served on the WTA Board from 2018 to 2023, before being elected to the new WTA Ventures Board in early 2023. He has also been a member of the ATP Media Board of Directors since 2017.

He will begin his role in late fall, before Downey officially retires at the end of December.

“I couldn’t imagine a better candidate to propel Tennis Canada’s ship into the future,” said Downey, who spent 15 years at the helm of Tennis Canada as President and CEO. Gavin knows the organization and the industry inside and out and has worked passionately for 25 years to grow our sport. »