On March 27, The Women’s International Squash Players’ Association (WISPA) announced that Andrew Shelley, WISPA’s Chief Executive Officer for the past 15 years, will be stepping down. Shelley has played a pivotal role both in building the sport and in ensuring the well-being of its players and has committed to staying on to ensure a smooth transition, and that the continuity of the association is maintained.
“I have had 15 wonderful years serving an evolving but always great group of young women,” said Shelley. “They are committed, great athletes and superb ambassadors so it has been a privilege. And while nothing is forever, I plan to live and breathe WISPA just as keenly in the future.”
“We are all deeply indebted to Andrew for having nurtured WISPA into becoming a global success story,” said WISPA President Natalie Grainger. “Whilst we are extremely saddened to see him leave, we are of course respectful of his decision to move on. We would like to wish him all the best for the future and are grateful that he has offered to continue to help steer us into the next chapter of our history.”
Just 11 days after announcing his departure from WISPA, the World Squash Federation (WSF) confirmed the appointment of Shelley as Chief Executive Officer, with effect from 1st August 2010.
Once Shelley had decided to leave WISPA, WSF contacted him to see if he might be interested in taking on an executive role with WSF as a new challenge.
WSF President Mr. N. Ramachandran expressed his delight, saying: “I am very pleased indeed that Andrew is coming to the WSF. He brings incomparable experience, knowledge, and a proven track record of absolute commitment to squash.
“WSF has been without a CEO for some time now; we needed to rebuild our reserves and start a fund for the next Olympic Bid after the recent costs of ‘Squash for 2016.’ However, we were very conscious that we needed the drive of a CEO to take us forward, both to implement our long-term strategic plan and also to advance the areas where we need to strengthen our case for the vote in 2013 for the Olympic medal place in 2020.
“It was fortuitous indeed that Andrew became available just when we were beginning to feel that the time was right for a new appointment,” Ramachandran concluded.
Commenting upon his appointment, Shelley added: “Squash has been my life since I joined the English Association over 30 years ago, and I really wasn’t sure that I would be continuing in the sport when I decided it was the right time to step down from WISPA.
“So when the WSF offered me their CEO position, it didn’t take me long to say yes! I have not seen WSF react quickly like that before but I hope that after I have been there for a while it will be the norm! It is a relief not to have a protracted job search, and though it will be very different from WISPA I am looking forward to continuing a relationship with so many people from a new angle.
“My priority now is to ensure a smooth transition for my successor at WISPA, then I greatly relish the opportunity to work with the member nations, player associations, partners and supporters of World Squash as we look to add still further to its two V’s…Visibility and Vibrancy.
