Wight Bows Out On A High

Back to list >

Ian Wight, the man ultimately responsible for the success of The Artois Championships since its inception almost 30 years ago, presented Andy Roddick with the famous trophy for the last time.

As he embarks on a well-earned journey into retirement, one of the founding members of a tournament that has become a popular and integral part of the professional tennis circuit, is handing over his role as tournament director to Chris Kermode.

“There is a time within an event like this that you have to get out of the way and let the rest of the team better develop and grow,” says Ian from his office at The Queen’s Club. “It will always have a little earmark in the corner which will say: ‘Ian Wight was here’ and that should be enough for me.”

It is perhaps typical of the man that he views his contribution to the sport – both in Britain and on a global scale – with modesty, but it is not something that has been taken lightly by the industry. ATP Executive Chairman Etienne de Villiers said: “Much of the success of the Artois Championships has been down to Ian. It is hard to imagine this week on the grass of Queen’s Club without him – such has been his professionalism, dedication and above all enthusiasm for this world renowned tournament. I want to thank him on behalf the ATP for his considerable contribution and wish him well in retirement.”

Last December, he was also honored by the media, as the Lawn Tennis Writers Association presented Ian with an award for his services to British tennis. “I was quietly chuffed about it, to be absolutely honest, because I was the first commercial winner of the award,” says Ian. “It came from the commercial development and promotion of the sport. We have created a sporting event to an international standard and done it entirely through funds raised by the event, not a penny has come from third party funding. I’m very proud that we’ve been able to do that.”

Marketing Expertise

It was in the late-1970s when, as managing director of the CDP Aspect marketing and sales agency under Sir Frank Lowe, Ian Wight became part of a team to re-establish a tournament that in 1974 had fallen by the wayside after 106 years in the English capital.

Along with Sir Frank, Ian worked with the late Clive Bernstein, then the chairman of The Queen’s Club, and soon joined forces with Anthony Simmonds-Gooding, then the head of Whitbread. Ian’s role as Executive Director was to build and stage the event, which became the Stella Artois Grass Court Championships in 1979, and together they forged what has since become the longest tournament-sponsor partnership on the ATP circuit.

“Ian’s marketing expertise and attention to detail ensured that the event not only worked but established itself and quickly grew into an important, stylish and attractive part of the men’s professional tennis circuit,” said Artois Championships Communications Director Jolyon Armstrong, who has worked with Ian for the past 22 years. “Ian was the first to recognize the position of the tournament to Wimbledon, which was crucial to its continued success. He understood the importance for the players to remain in one city for four weeks as opposed to their usual one.”

The inception of the tournament coincided with the emergence of a certain young American, John McEnroe, who reached the first six finals at The Queen’s Club, winning four and losing two against his arch-rival Jimmy Connors. With McEnroe and Connors also going on to win Wimbledon, the tournament’s reputation had been established and was further enhanced in 1985 when Boris Becker captured his first professional title before going on to win at the All England Club 21 days later.

“Personalities sell tickets at a disproportionate rate, there’s no doubt about it,” says Ian. “When McEnroe walked into the grounds, you could feel the sound of the site depress, as if a large balloon was having the air let out it. The pressure was getting greater and greater and greater. There was absolutely no doubt who was in charge of affairs when he was playing, and that was just an extraordinary experience.”

Protective Watch

Described as a “formidable and fearsome goalkeeper in his day,” Ian Wight has kept a protective watch over every aspect of the tournament in much the same way, developing a strong team of people who return to The Queen’s Club each year. “He’s a very fair and very loyal person, loyalty is tops with him,” said tournament referee Jim Moore. “If you support the tournament, he will support you.”

With this being Ian’s last year, a few of his closest supporters put together a surprise gathering prior to the tournament, many of whom had worked with him for upwards of 20 years. “Keeping that team together, and keeping them productive, making a valuable contribution, I think if you were to ask me what I’m most proud of, I guess it would be that,” says Ian. “There’s been a lot of commitment from a lot of people, through good times and bad times, and the good times have been absolutely fantastic.”

It is testimony to Ian’s ability to put together such a team that has enabled him to leave the Artois Championships in the capable hands of incoming tournament director Chris Kermode. Three years ago, Ian created a programme to fit key personnel into significant roles that would allow him to gradually withdraw. “Finding a tournament director was the hardest because they do need some tennis experience,” says Ian. “You also need someone who’s politically sensitive and I think in Chris Kermode, we have someone who understands that. Chris seems to have the respect of the players, which is also quite important.”

Being able to assess the needs of the many different parties also helped Ian juggle the demands of the media and players during his time as tournament director, a role he first took on in 1995. “He’s a generous and understanding tournament director who had to wear many hats,” said Jim Moore. “He’s very diplomatic and was always very good at liaising between the media and the players. He was very adept at understanding any given situation.”

Now, as he contemplates retirement, Ian can look forward to making different decisions. “I’ve got four or five months to make up my mind about what I’m going to do,” he says.

Everyone at The Artois Championships, and those who have known and worked with him, wishes him the very best in his retirement.