The Professional Tennis Players Association announced on Thursday that Deputy Executive Director Romain Rosenberg is being elevated to Executive Director. Rosenberg replaces Ahmad Nassar, who had been the PTPA’s Executive Director since 2022 and will now transition to an advisor role.
Reached by SBJ Thursday evening, Nassar confirmed the change is effective immediately, and that it does not affect his position as CEO of Winners Alliance, the commercial arm of the PTPA, World Cricketers’ Association, Euroleague Players Association, Pathway Sports & Entertainment and Grand Slam Track. A statement posted to the PTPA’s X account framed the move as a “planned leadership transition.”
“The PTPA’s foundation is set,” Nassar, who earlier in his career was President of NFL Players Inc. and Founding CEO of OneTeam Partners, said of the leadership transition in prepared remarks. “This was always the plan. Build the institution, then hand the reins to the right leader. Romain has earned the trust of the players and the Executive Committee, and I’m confident in where he’ll take this organization.”
A source familiar with the organization’s workings said that Nassar is expected to remain involved in the PTPA’s ongoing antitrust litigation against the ATP Tour, WTA Tour and organizers of three of tennis’ four Grand Slams: the USTA (U.S. Open), All England Lawn Tennis Club (Wimbledon) and French Tennis Federation (French Open). That litigation -- launched initially against the tours, ITF and ITIA last March before later being amended to list the Slams as defendants -- was the PTPA’s most significant action during Nassar’s tenure as Executive Director. Tennis Australia, once a defendant with its Slam counterparts, reached a settlement with the PTPA to exit the litigation late last year; the other defendants have filed motions to dismiss.
Rosenberg, who had been the PTPA’s Deputy Executive Director since 2023, was previously Winners Alliance’s SVP/Strategy and worked four years at Boston Consulting Group before that. He holds an MBA from Wharton. He will now lead the PTPA strategy, operations and player services, with a focus, he said in a statement, on, “advancing our legal efforts, strengthening player services, and making sure every player on tour has the representation they deserve.”
However it’s framed, the change continues a period of flux for the PTPA, which saw its co-founder and former executive committee member Novak Djokovic abruptly depart the organization in early January.
