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Here is a sampling from our e-mail in-box. What are your thoughts on the CEO vacancy and selection efforts. How about ideas to improve the game? Send us an e-mail to
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A current PSA Top 10 player, name withheld by request
"I am confident the right man will be appointed soon, I would rather the board take their time over any appointment than rush into appointing a new CEO! I feel the board and temporary appointments are still taking the sport forward, even without a permanent CEO in place."
A current PSA player, name withheld by request
The search for a new PSA CEO is keeping me on the edge of my three legged squash seat. The last CEO, who was elected by the existing board, was an in-house disaster. The board have requested that they handle the details and my favourite line the board are clinging onto at present is, “that was then, we can not comment on the past”.
There are concerns that the search process is inadequate and unprofessional. Ted Wallbutton (stand in CEO) claims to be on the phone conducting countless interviews. Only time will tell if there is any truth to his statements. What are the qualities and expertise of the applicants in these conversations? Could the right man for the job exist where we least expect it?
Questionable whether the PSA board can be objective towards recruiting the best CEO. A deadline might create problems that could be avoided if a professional recruitment agency was first given the opportunity to seek out potential candidates. Leave it in the hands of experts with the right contacts and then get on the phone. With all the stress finding a CEO, the PSA has come to an unnecessary halt.
Good luck guys don’t make the same mistake twice!
A well known promoter of large and small PSA events, name withheld by request
"The PSA has to come together and create a vision for our professional squash . There is no doubt that there has been a lack of leadership in Pro Squash promotion. Frankly, working with them over the years has felt more like a wrestling match and less like a partnership. That being said, we need to move forward in a positive manner for growth. We need to cite past problems in a constructive manner to build the PSA up instead of bashing it. It has deserved a lot of bashing and received a lot of bashing over the years. I'm not saying we should be blind about it. Most have very little trust in the PSA."
John Nimick, Promoter of New York, Toronto and Boston PSA events and Player's Cup Series
1. To my knowledge, Gawain Briars acted professionally as CEO of PSA.
2. I do not think the PSA Board should limit themselves to basing the new CEO position out of the UK only.
3. Some natural realities, like small ball in small space, and the referee-player relationship
4. No dialogue between referees and players and no dissent permitted. Furthermore, the "no let" policy should be explored in two ways: a) either a stroke or no let is to be awarded on a challenged call or stoppage of play or b) eliminate the concept of a let altogether and regulate the sport like soccer, i.e. no tripping, blocking or flagrant fouls, but incidental contact and positional play are permitted.
Name withheld by request
"The selection process is critically important for the future of the PSA and also the global recognition of squash.
In 1993, the National Hockey League (NHL) selected Gary Bettman as its Commissioner. Bettman had been affiliated with the National Basketball Association (NBA) since the early 1980s. He brought a new perspective to the NHL and fostered incredible growth in the sport throughout the remainder of the 1990s. The PSA may want to use the NHL as an example and look outside of its sport. After all, the CEO only needs to understand the sport of squash, but he or she does not need to play the sport. The business of sports management is very similar across sports.
I'm not convinced that the next CEO of the PSA needs to reside in England. The PSA is a global endeavor and the CEO should be based out of a major metropolitan area. Since major advertising and sponsorship dollars come from financial firms, it seems reasonable to mandate that the CEO reside in a major metroplitan and financial center (Boston, New York, Toronto, London, Paris, Madrid, Hong Kong, etc).
The next CEO of the PSA must be extremely media savy. Squash needs to be regularly covered by the websites of ESPN, Sports Illustrated, and major newspapers throughout the world. This will not only expand the popularity of squash, but also increase the prize money for the players."
The Squash Blog
Speculation about who - or at least what kind of candidate - should fill out-going PSA Chief Executive Gawain Briars' shoes seems to be split between those who favour someone from "inside" the game who has good relations with all stakeholding groups (such as a retired player), and those who would like to see someone with a track record in business/sports management apply their experience in the squash field.
The appointment is crucial to the future direction of men's squash. Squashblogger's preference is for someone with proven experience in international business, as the growth regions within the sport (north America, the Middle East, India) require someone who can empathise with the different cultures represented by the global game and negotiate within them at an appropriate level.
Ideally they should have a proper understanding of marketing, and have the foresight to see how using the media is crucial to successfully promoting their "product" to a public who are increasingly discerning when choosing how to spend their leisure time.
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