Bob Bryant has been named tournament director of the Atlanta Tennis Championships, which will be played at the Racquet Club of the South July 18-24, 2011. 

 

Effective immediately, Bryant will also serve as USTA Southern Director of Sales & Marketing, covering nine states and about one-quarter of the U.S. membership. 

 

Bryant spent five years at Turner Broadcasting and the Cartoon Network, mostly as Vice President of Off-Channel Commerce. Bryant managed Cartoon Network Smash Tennis, a program designed with the Tennis Industry Association, USTA and ATP World Tour to promote tennis to kids which included a national television image campaign and an interactive event which appeared around the U.S. and in South America, Asia, Australia and Europe. He also managed Cartoon Network Wacky Racing including primary sponsorship of a NASCAR team, licensing, merchandising, co-sponsorships, on-air and in-store promotions and created the Off-Channel Commerce department. 

  

USTA Southern President Mike McNulty said, "We are excited to have Bob on board. He has the experience, expertise and a proven track record to be a tremendous Director of Marketing and Sales and Tournament Director of the Atlanta Tennis Championships."

  

"Bryant brings the expertise that will help us move forward promoting tennis in the South through our section’s Marketing and Sales departments," said John Callen, USTA Southern Executive Director. 

  

Bryant said, "I am delighted to promote the game and serve the membership of USTA Southern. Atlanta is clearly a tennis town and I look forward to building on the foundation of the Atlanta Tennis Championships established by USTA Southern as we move to Racquet Club of the South and welcome the ATP World Tour and the greatest professional tennis players in the world as part of the Olympus US Open Series. I could not be more excited." 

  

Bryant's appointment is subject to ATP approval. A decision is expected at the tour's board meeting next month. 

  

Bryant launched his own firm, Team Works Marketing, Inc. where he served as chairman and CEO. Clients of the agency have included: the USTA, the ATP World Tour, the US Open, Cartoon Network, Kellogg’s, the Greater Rome Bank, the Georgia Force (Arena Football), the Arena at Gwinnett Center, Freedom Park Conservancy, Atlanta Flyfishing Festival, Smucker’s Stars On Ice (Atlanta show), Red Hot Restaurants and 7ate9. 

  

The resident of Alpharetta, Ga. was part of the start-up of a new professional hockey team and served as the General Manager of the Atlanta Knights of the IHL. Utilizing an award winning campaign, "Knightmare on Peachtree Street," the Atlanta Knights playing at the Omni outdrew the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks and led their league in attendance. 

  

   

2010 champion Mardy Fish and finalist John Isner have committed to return to Atlanta to play in 2011. Both players finished last year in the top 20 in the world-wide South African Airways 2010 ATP Rankings.

  

In 2010 top competitors included Andy Roddick, Lleyton Hewitt, James Blake and Robby Ginepri, of Kennesaw, Ga. More than 41,000 spectators attended the inaugural tournament that offered $600,000 in prize money.

  

The ATP formally awarded the ATP 250 sanction Atlanta Tennis Championships to the USTA Southern Section in December 2009.