Larry Scott, who has worked for the ATP Tour for the past 11 years, has been hired as chief executive officer of the WTA Tour.
Scott, 38, was introduced at a news conference yesterday before the women's final at the Nasdaq-100 Open. He said he hopes to improve the strained relationship between the men's and women's tours, as well as relations with the Grand Slam tournaments and International Tennis Federation.
"I do think that my history and track record can only be beneficial in terms of all the governing bodies working more closely together," he said. "The sport can only reach its true potent ial if all the governing bodies are working in greater harmony."
One change Scott said he would like to see is a combined championship tournament for the two tours at the end of the year.
Most recently Scott was ATP chief operating officer and president of ATP Properties. He signed a five-year agreement with the WTA Tour to succeed Kevin Wulff, who left after 18 months for a job with Adidas.
Nasdaq tournament chairman Butch Buchholz said he hopes the hiring of Scott brings the men's and women's tours closer together.
"We desperately need to be unified and start thinking of the sport as one," Buchholz said.