Sally Bolton will step down as the All England Lawn Tennis Club's chief executive following the 2026 Wimbledon Championships, ending a six-year tenure at the helm of the world-famous tournament [1, 2, 3].
Bolton became the first female chief executive of the All England Club when she was appointed in December 2019, replacing Richard Lewis who had served in the role for eight years before leaving in 2019 [1, 2, 3]. Her leadership included overseeing the return of Wimbledon after the 2020 tournament was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic [1, 2, 3].
During her time, Bolton supported plans to expand the Wimbledon site and helped implement the switch from a 13-day to a 14-day tournament format starting in 2022 [1, 2, 3]. She expressed pride in the progress made, saying, "I am proud of what we have achieved together - particularly bringing the Championships back following the pandemic and in shaping a clear path for the future. The All England Club is a very special institution, and I look forward to seeing it continue to flourish in the years ahead" [1].
Bolton, aged 51, will depart amid rising pressure on Grand Slam organizers from top players seeking greater financial rewards [2, 3]. After her exit, Richard Atkinson, the club's financial director, will serve as interim chief executive while a permanent successor is selected [1]. The All England Club has said it will announce Bolton's replacement in due course [1, 2, 3].
The 2026 Wimbledon Championships are scheduled from June 29 to July 12, marking Bolton’s final tournament as chief executive [2, 3].
