William Jackson confirmed as new LTA Chair, with Roy Colabawalla set to become President in 2026
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The LTA confirmed today the appointments of a new Chair from July 2025, William Jackson, and a new President from January 2026, Roy Colabawalla.
William Jackson is Founder (and until 2024 Chair) of Bridgepoint, a FTSE 250 company and one of the world's leading quoted private asset growth investors, specialising in private equity, infrastructure and private credit.
He was born and grew up in Macclesfield and has served on numerous boards during his career including holding the chair role at both Pret A Manger and MotoGP.
He is the Senior Independent Director of The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Europe's largest comprehensive cancer hospital and one of the world's top five centres for cancer research and also Chair of Wellington College Education, one of the leading co-educational international schools group. He is a keen tennis player and is married with three daughters.
William succeeds Mervyn Davies, Lord Davies of Abersoch, CBE, who has been in post since 2018 and announced in December 2024 that he was stepping down later this year. William will take up his role immediately after The Championships at Wimbledon in July 2025.
I am passionate about access to opportunity for all, so am looking forward to working with colleagues at the LTA and the whole British tennis community to continue to open the sport up to more and more people.
Roy Colabawalla has been LTA Deputy President since January 2023 and in this capacity also sits on the LTA Board. He is from Birmingham and is married with two young children. He has volunteered in tennis for over 20 years in a number of roles including multiple club positions, assisting in the Cliff Richard Tennis Foundation, being involved in the LTA’s international tournament at the Edgbaston Priory Club in Birmingham, multiple County committee roles and volunteering on the LTA council.
Roy is a corporate partner in a regional law firm and specialises in a broad range of corporate work including mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, private equity, joint ventures, group reorganisations and commercial transactions in mergers and acquisitions.
He succeeds Sandi Procter who completes her three-year term as LTA President at the end of 2025. Roy will take up his role on 1 January 2026. An appointment process for a new LTA Deputy President is already under-way.
William Jackson said: “I am delighted to be taking up this important role at such an exciting time for British tennis. The strong grassroots participation figures we have seen coupled with brilliant and inspiring performances from our professional players mean the future looks bright. I am passionate about access to opportunity for all, so am looking forward to working with colleagues at the LTA and the whole British tennis community to continue to open the sport up to more and more people.”
The LTA Council represent the grassroots of the sport across Britain, and I look forward to being their voice on the LTA Board and representing the LTA within the international tennis community.
Roy Colabawalla said: “I am hugely excited to become the LTA’s 24th President next year. I am proud to be following Sandi who has made so many strong connections inside and outside of tennis during her term. The LTA Council represent the grassroots of the sport across Britain, and I look forward to being their voice on the LTA Board and representing the LTA within the international tennis community.”
Vicky Williams, LTA People Director, who facilitated both appointment processes said: “William was the outstanding candidate from a very strong field for the role of Chair. His extensive business experience including many years as Chair of different businesses including MotoGP, allied with a keen interest in sport and equality, meant that he had the perfect blend of skills to chair the board.
Roy will be our youngest President for 68 years. He has been a very active Deputy President and I am sure will continue this approach in his role as President. It is a very important role that forms the bridge between the grassroots of our sport and the highest echelons of the international game, and he will bring enthusiasm and energy to the role.”
Scott Lloyd, LTA Chief Executive said: “We are delighted that William has accepted the role, and I am sure he will prove an excellent Chair as we look to deliver our mission of transforming communities through tennis. I would also like to pay tribute to Mervyn who has been an inspirational Chair over the past seven years and has done so much behind the scenes to steer and support the LTA Board.
Roy has deep experience in British tennis and is ideally placed to build upon the contribution that Sandi has made, and strong relations she has developed across the sport over the past three years. I have no doubt he will excel in his new role and I would like to thank Sandi for all her hard work during her tenure.”
