The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has announced that Jonny Gray is set to leave his position as CEO of the organisation later this year – a role he took on in 2019.

Gray was initially tasked with overseeing the creation of the ITIA as the replacement for the Tennis Integrity Unit (TIU), the sports integrity body of tennis’ global governing authorities, and continued in his role for the next three years.

Jennie Price, ITIA Chair, commented: “Jonny has done an excellent job in challenging circumstances. Within weeks of attending his first tennis tournament as CEO, the entire global landscape was drastically altered due to the pandemic, and Jonny’s consulting background and change management experience stood him in very good stead during a challenging period. 

“He leaves the new ITIA in a strong position, and we wish him well in his next chapter. On behalf of all the tennis governing bodies, I would like to thank him for his significant contribution to integrity in tennis.”

The TIU had recommended the formation of a new tennis integrity association to safeguard against corruption and match-fixing, following a 2018 report into these issues. 

In March of last year, Gray spoke to the Integrity Insight Podcast, highlighting the role that betting companies can play in assisting with countering of match-fixing, and discussing the theratposed to the sport from organised crime and the players and officials it corrupts. 

On his departure from CEO, Gray added: “It has been a pleasure and a privilege to set up and lead the ITIA at the start of its journey. Tennis is leading the way in its integrity programme, and I am thankful to the Tennis Integrity Supervisory Board and the sport as a whole for their support.

“My primary role as the first CEO was to oversee the change from TIU to ITIA and the subsequent integration of the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme. With this completed, now is the right time to move on and hand the baton on to the next person to lead the organisation into the future.”

In addition to overseeing the transition of integrity responsibilities from the TIU to the ITIA, Gray was also responsible for the administration of the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme.

Although stepping down from the position, Gray will remain with the ITIA over the ‘coming months’ whilst the organisation searches for a new CEO, which ‘will be confirmed in due course’.