Heather Bowler joins ITF as Executive Director, Communications & Digital Services
From the ITF: (July 25, 2018) The International Tennis Federation has appointed Heather Bowler as Executive Director, Communications & Digital Services.
Bowler joins the ITF to lead the Communications and Digital Services team from 3 September 2018.
“We are delighted to announce Heather’s appointment as ITF Executive Director of Communications and Digital Services,” said ITF President David Haggerty.
“This is a pivotal time for the ITF with our ambitious programme of change helping to transform our sport at all levels of the game. Communications is at the heart of ITF2024 as we seek to develop, grow and promote tennis at all levels of the sport and in all 210 member nations. We have a compelling story to tell and I am delighted to welcome Heather to the ITF team to help us tell it with energy and vision.”
Bowler joins the ITF from the Women’s Tennis Association where she held the role of SVP Marketing & Communications. Prior to the WTA, she was Global Communications Director for live sports broadcaster Eurosport from 2007-2014 and previously held senior international communications roles at Interpublic Group of Companies owned global agencies: firstly as Press Relations Manager at creative ad agency Lowe Lintas, before being appointed Corporate Communications Officer at media agency Initiative Media Worldwide in 2000.
Bowler will work closely with national and regional tennis associations to promote tennis at every level, from grassroots to elite professional competition. She will be responsible for leading strategic communications to promote the key initiatives, innovations and positive change resulting from the ITF’s strategic roadmap and long-term project for sustainable growth, ITF2024.
Bowler will work with the Communications and Digital Services team to develop a communications and digital content plan to create engagement and excitement for the ITF’s key initiatives to grow the sport globally as well as its key events including the Olympic and Paralympic Tennis Events, Davis Cup By BNP Paribas and Fed Cup by BNP Paribas, and more than 4,000 tournaments on the Pro, Junior, Wheelchair, Seniors and Beach tennis circuits.
Bowler said: “Tennis is a global sport that offers gripping action and excites emotion. Whether it’s watching a competition match at an event or on TV, following your national champion online or simply grabbing a racquet for a game with friends and family, tennis brings people together. It has its heroes, its rules of engagement and its values. Success in this sport is based upon respect, resilience and determination. It’s a phenomenal sport to work in and I’m thrilled to join the ITF and be part of the ITF2024 movement to drive the participation and awareness of the sport forward.”
