DP World Tour chief executive Keith Pelley is to step down after eight and a half years in the job.

Pelley’s exit comes as the DP World Tour remains in talks with the PGA Tour to form an alliance with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF).

Ryder Cup executive director Guy Kinnings – also the DP World Tour’s deputy CEO – will take over on 2 April.

“I’m eternally grateful for the incredible experiences my family and I have had with the tour,” Pelley said.

“I am also fortunate to be able to pass the baton on to someone immensely experienced and respected in Guy, who I have no doubt will ensure the tour continues to prosper for many years to come.”

Canadian Pelley will take up the role of president and CEO of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, which owns NHL franchise the Toronto Maple Leafs, NBA franchise the Toronto Raptors and MLS club Toronto FC.

The 60-year-old was an integral figure with the European golf circuit, introducing the Rolex Series, DP World’s title partnership of the main tour, the G4D tour for golfers with a disability, mixed events with the European and US-based women’s tours, and staging the two most successful Ryder Cups to be played on European soil, in Paris in 2018 and Rome in 2023.

Kinnings has been part of the DP World Tour Group since 2018. He is also the Ryder Cup’s chief commercial officer.

“It has been a privilege to work closely with Keith since I joined the tour in 2018,” Kinnings said.

“He set out to transform the European Tour group, and unquestionably he has done that.

“It will be a huge honour to take on this role in April and I am immensely proud to have been given this responsibility. I will continue to work closely with Keith, Eric [chair Eric Nicoli] and the board over the next three months to ensure a seamless transition.

“I look forward to working with our players, staff and partners in the game, as well as our very impressive executive leadership and senior management teams, to continue to build upon everything our tour has achieved in recent years.”