The International Tennis Federation (ITF) today announced that Steve Wilson, a highly-respected journalist with vast experience across the international sports world, has been appointed the ITF’s Executive Director of Communications and International Relations. Wilson has been serving for the past 25 years as European Sports Editor for The Associated Press (AP), where he has established himself as the most read and trusted source on the Olympic movement.

“We are delighted to announce Steve’s appointment as Director of Communications and International Relations,” said ITF President David Haggerty. “Over the last 25 years, Steve has built a reputation within the international sports movement as a highly skilled communicator with an extensive knowledge of the sports industry and those who operate within it. He arrives at the ITF at a very exciting time as we continue to implement our ambitious ITF 2024 plan and move forward in our mission to develop, grow and promote tennis around the world.

“Communication both internally within the ITF and the tennis family as well as externally with the broader sports and Olympic Movement is vital to us achieving our goals and I have no doubt Steve will play a vital role in helping us achieve our mission.”

Wilson, whose AP career includes coverage of 15 Summer and Winter Olympic Games and more than 20 Wimbledon championships, will take up the ITF post on 9 January.

Wilson will replace the outgoing Barbara Travers who has worked as the ITF Head of Communications since 1999. “I would like to thank Barbara for her excellent work and dedication to the federation over the last 23 years,” Haggerty added. “Barbara has done a fantastic job in promoting the ITF around the world during a key period in the federation’s history and we wish her the very best in her retirement.”

As European Sports Editor of AP for more than two decades, Wilson has developed a broad knowledge across a wide number of sports, particularly tennis which he has covered passionately. He has a thorough understanding of marketing and communications including print, online and social communication channels, having played an integral role in AP’s rise as a leader in digital media.  This is an excellent fit for the ITF Communications Department whose remit includes the ITF family of websites and social media accounts, an expanding marketing area and publications. Wilson has first-hand knowledge of international media and an extensive network of contacts within tennis and the entire sports movement.

Wilson said: “I am excited to join the ITF and combine tennis, a sport that I have covered for 30 years, with the wider Olympic movement where I have seen the impact of the sport on the Games. I’m looking forward to working with the ITF team, member nations, tennis family and media to support ITF 2024 and the mission of the ITF.”

Wilson, a native of Washington DC, has been a member of the International Olympic Committee Press Commission since 1991, contributing to the setting of policy for media coverage and logistics at the Games; and has served as President of the Olympic Journalist Association since 2014. Over a 37-year career he has worked in London, Rome, New Delhi, New York, Boston and Miami.