By Rory Carroll
INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (Reuters) - Chris Kermode will leave his position as ATP executive chairman and president at the end of 2019, ending a tenure which brought record prize money but also growing complaints from lower-ranked players about their pay and travel schedules.
Kermode's contract was scheduled to expire at the end of the season and some players, including 17-times Grand Slam champion Rafa Nadal, believed the 54-year-old Briton should have continued in the job.
Some members of the Player Council, however, including its President and world number one Novak Djokovic, had said they wanted to see a change.
The Council met privately for over six hours on Tuesday at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells to discuss Kermode's future.
"It's been a privilege to serve as ATP executive chairman and president since 2014 and I'm very proud of what we have achieved during this time," Kermode said in the statement.
"I would like to thank everyone at the ATP, and all the players and tournaments for the support over the years. I remain fully dedicated to the role for the remainder of my term and wish the organisation every success in the future."
(Reporting by Rory Carroll, editing by Ed Osmond)