The US Tennis Association (USTA) has hired Marisa Grimes as its Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer to support its business imperative of diversity and inclusion both internally and across the sport.
Grimes will begin her new role with the USTA on 4th January 2021. She comes to the USTA from Mastercard, where she most recently served as Director, Diversity & Inclusion. There, she led all diversity and inclusion efforts across the company’s North American regional and global business units. Under her leadership, the company expanded both its internal and external diversity initiatives, impact and accountability.
As a senior executive, Grimes will report to USTA’s CEO and Executive Director Michael Dowse. She will work with USTA’s leadership team to develop and implement a cultural shift throughout all levels of the organisation, reflecting its commitment to elevating inclusiveness and equity in the sport.
MEASURABLE D&I INITIATIVES
One of her highest priorities will be to ensure the USTA fulfils its mission of “growing the game by bringing new generations of diverse players and providers to the sport across the US”, to transform the business and culture in every facet of both the USTA and the tennis ecosystem at large.
“The USTA has historically honoured our sport’s cultural icons, such as Althea Gibson, Billie Jean King and Arthur Ashe, but we understand that our actions have not always matched our beliefs,” said Dowse. “We know that Marisa’s energy and leadership will help us bridge that gap and ensure that tennis is the inclusive sport we aspire it to be.”
Grimes will be responsible for creating tangible and measurable diversity and inclusion initiatives for staff and volunteers at both the national and section levels of the USTA, designing programmes that improve cultural awareness and sensitivities and promote inclusive practices.
ADDRESSING LONGSTANDING INEQUITIES
“My hope is that I can contribute to the USTA in a meaningful way to help create policy changes and actions that reflect a commitment to doing the right things for the right reasons to address longstanding inequalities in our country and the sport of tennis,” commented Grimes. “It is not going to happen overnight, but we can establish a solid pathway for progress.”
A graduate of the University of Maryland, Grimes also has a long history in corporate communications with a number of US media companies. She also sits on the board of directors for the Northeast STEM Starter Academy in Mt Vernon, NY.
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