Etienne de Villiers

Etienne de Villiers (born in 1950) is a non-executive director and Chairman of BBC Worldwide, a position he took up in January 2006. He is also the current Executive Chairman of the ATP Tour.

The South African is trained as an engineer.

Biography

Etienne was born and raised in Pretoria, South Africa. He has been the President and Managing Director of "Walt Disney International Europe" based in London. In that position, he was responsible for directing and co-ordinating all Disney's activities in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. He later became President of "Walt Disney Television International". In that role he was responsible for international free and pay television including all production and broadcasting activities of The Walt Disney Company outside the United States.

As the director of the Association of Tennis Professionals, a job he has held since 2005, de Villiers is renowned for making significant changes to better the organization. He feels that he has succesfully transformed the corporation, and announced that he would leave it after the end of 2008. Amongst his achievements is greater sums of tennis player's prize money.cite news | author =Association of Tennis Professionals| title =Etienne de Villiers To Step Down As ATP Executive Chairman| url =http://www.atptennis.com/1/en/2008news/devilliers_decision.asp| date =2008-08-21| accessdate =2008-08-21| language =English] However he had been criticized by a number of top male players including Roger Federer and Raphael Nadal. In March 2008, every top 20 player signed a letter to the ATP Board of Directors demanding the De Villiers' contract not be renewed until other candidates were interviewed for his position.cite news | author=Tennis Week | title=De Villiers Out as ATP Executive Chairman | url=http://www.tennisweek.com/news/fullstory.sps?inewsid=6616542|date=2008-08-21]

de Villiers has been serving as the director of the British Broadcasting Corporation for nearly two years.

References and Sources

External links

* [http://www.atptennis.com/en/aboutatp/organization.asp#etienne Profile of Etienne de Villiers on ATP Board]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/biographies/biogs/worldwide/etienne_de_villiers.shtml BBC Biography]