Ashleigh Barty Dismissed as Optus Chief of Inspiration

Ashleigh Barty, the retired WTA star and former world No. 1, has been let go from her role as Chief of Inspiration at Optus, just weeks before the 2025 Australian Open. Barty was appointed in September 2022, shortly after her retirement, and her role involved engaging employees and connecting with the community. However, changes in Optus management, with Stephen Rue replacing Kelly Bayer Rosmarin, have led to the elimination of her position and that of fellow athlete Daniel Ricciardo, who served as Chief of Optimism. Optus stated the decision was made to rebuild customer trust by focusing on core business fundamentals. Barty's departure is seen as a significant blow to her post-tennis career, although she continues to work on children's books and with brands like Tim Tam and Vegemite.