Steve Simon to leave role as WTA CEO but will continue as executive chairman.

The governing body of women's tennis has confirmed that WTA boss Steve Simon will step down from his position as CEO but will remain as executive chairman following the appointment of his replacement.

Simon has been chairman and chief executive of the WTA for eight years but has come under increasing fire from the players recently, not least over the decision to hold the season-ending WTA Finals outdoors in the Mexican resort of Cancun.

The revised structure will separate the roles of chairman and CEO to allow greater focus on the WTA's mission and goals, the WTA said in a statement, adding that the new CEO will be tasked with managing and growing its operations.

The WTA added that Micky Lawler, who has served as president since 2015, had decided to leave the organisation at the end of the year to pursue new opportunities.

The upcoming changes in leadership will include the hiring of a new CEO who will report to Simon, the commercial enterprise with CVC Capital Partners that was formed this year and the departure of President Micky Lawler, who will not be replaced.

Simon said he thinks "our preference is" to "find a female candidate" for the CEO position.

He has led the WTA since succeeding Stacey Allaster in 2015; Lawler was in her role since 2014.

"Once the position of CEO has been filled, Simon will assume the role of executive chairman," the WTA said.

"In this role, Simon will focus on governance, strategic interests of the WTA within the sport, integrity issues and the development of new markets and frontiers for the WTA."

The WTA said Simon would also continue to chair the board of WTA Ventures - a new commercial entity formed earlier this year.

"The new structure will help the WTA to secure its objectives of growing the game and delivering equal prize money for women by 2033," the WTA added.

The hunt for the new WTA CEO, who will report to Simon, is being supported by global executive search firm Korn Ferry.

"Our preference is that we do find a female candidate - it makes sense," Simon told the BBC. "It would be in the best long-term interests of the organisation."