Tennis: Phillips the face for next century

WIMBLEDON have named John Curry's successor as chairman to lead the world's most prestigious tennis championships into the next century. Tim Phillips, 56, will spend 1999 preparing for the job as Curry's vice-chairman before taking over the chair in 2000.

Curry, with Phillips at his side, will oversee the re-negotiation of television rights. The BBC's contract with the All England Club expires after next year's championships in July. Wimbledon's rebuilding programme will continue into the next century.

"Tim has all the attributes needed," Curry said yesterday. A member of the All England Club since 1966, Phillips joined the committee in 1989, the year Curry was appointed chairman.

Educated at Mill Hill School and Merton College, Oxford, Phillips gained a triple blue, captaining Oxford at tennis and squash and also played for the hockey team. He reached the semi-finals of the men's doubles at the United States Championships in 1964, and in 1966 he advanced to the second round of the Australian Championships and played in the men's doubles at Wimbledon. He also played for successful Middlesex inter-county championship teams at tennis and squash.

Phillips joined British Airways in 1966 and spent 15 years overseas as the company's area manager for the Gulf, Australia and Italy. Returning to BA's headquarters in 1983, he held a number of posts, including deputy marketing director, head of logistics, deputy operations director and regional general manager Europe. He is now head of community relations.