Portia Archer has stepped down from her role as chief executive officer of the Women’s Tennis Association less than two years after being appointed, the organisation said on Wednesday.
WTA chair Valerie Camillo informed staff, members and stakeholders of Archer’s departure in a note.
The letter did not specify a reason for the exit, but said Archer stepped down effective April 20, ahead of her contract renewal.
Archer, who previously held a senior role at the National Basketball Association, replaced Steve Simon, who stepped aside in late 2023 after eight years in charge. Simon remained executive chairman until Camillo’s appointment in October last year.
“We are working through a transition plan for the leadership of the WTA and will share an update by mid-May,” Camillo said in the note.
Appointed in July 2024, Archer oversaw the WTA’s day-to-day business operations and strategy, including efforts to expand into new markets.
However, her tenure also unfolded against the backdrop of scrutiny over the decision to move the season-ending WTA Finals to Riyadh. The deal, agreed in April 2024 under Simon, saw the first edition staged in the Saudi capital later that year.
The current three-year agreement runs until the end of this season, with the WTA confirming earlier this month that it is in discussions with potential hosts for the Finals from 2027 onwards.
Published on Apr 23, 2026