Ian Hewitt, immediate past Chair of The All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club and The Championships, Wimbledon, has been awarded a MBE in recognition for services to tennis and charity in His Majesty The King’s New Year Honours.

Ian Hewitt MBE commented: “I am very pleased and privileged to receive this honour. Thanks and recognition must go to the standing of the AELTC and The Championships and, importantly, to the great work of all the team here who support our contribution to society including through the Wimbledon Foundation.”

Ian joined the AELTC Committee in 2002 and succeeded Philip Brook as Chair in December 2019. During his tenure, Ian oversaw many enhancements to The Championships, including the introduction of play on Middle Sunday; the completion of the state-of-the-art Indoor Tennis Centre; long-term renewals with two key Wimbledon broadcast partners; and an oversubscribed No.1 Court debenture issue in 2021.

He ably steered the organisation through the twin challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and Russian and Belarusian player entries in light of Russia’s war on Ukraine. Ian’s passion for the role the Club plays as a force for good in the community shone through during his time on the Committee, particularly demonstrated by his leadership in establishing and chairing the Wimbledon Foundation, the official charity of the Club and The Championships.

Now 10 years old, the Wimbledon Foundation invests resources locally (particularly in the Club’s neighbouring boroughs of Merton and Wandsworth), nationally and internationally to champion opportunity for all and make a positive difference to people’s lives.

Ian stepped down as Chair after The Championships in July 2023, and five months later, he was appointed a Vice President of the Club in recognition of his outstanding 21 years of service.

Ian was a partner for more than 25 years with Freshfields, a leading international law firm. He is also the author of a variety of publications about Wimbledon and its history.