We round up the latest movements from the ticketing sector and associated industries…
Tix Ticketing has announced that Ragnar Skúlason (pictured left) has joined the ticketing, CRM and marketing software provider as head of engineering. Skúlason has entered the new role after working with the Icelandic Post – Iceland’s national postal service – where he worked in software development.
Skúlason boasts over 20 years of experience working in IT and software development. He has previously worked for software company Meniga as a senior technical integration lead, running multiple implementations with global financial institutions including Unicredit, Banco Santanter and Isbank.
Einar Gustafsson, vice-president of product and engineering at Tix Ticketing, said: “We are extremely lucky to have Ragnar join the Tix Ticketing team. With his vast experience in building and integrating complex software solutions for large enterprises around the world he will be an integral part in our continued success. Tix has been growing fast in recent years and with entering new markets and more clients coming on board, we need strong leaders who can facilitate and have an impact on our journey.”
Skúlason added: “I am very excited about this opportunity I have been offered. Tix has been producing unique software that has proven itself in multiple ticketing markets and faces great opportunities in growth and development. We face many exciting technical challenges, both in solutions for new markets and improvements for our current customers. I look forward to the coming months getting to know Tix’s operations and customers better.”
Elsewhere, entertainment and venue management company ASM Global has appointed Charles Beirne (pictured right) as general manager of the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center.
Beirne has worked for ASM Global since 2006 and was most recently the general manager of Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center in California. He has also been the general manager of the Atlantic City Convention Center, a position he held from 2006 until 2012, before joining Long Beach.
The Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center is currently undergoing a $1.3bn (£922m/€1.2bn) renovation and expansion.
Bob McClintock, ASM Global vice-president, convention centers, said: “After overseeing a $60 million capital improvement project at the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center, Charlie is the perfect candidate to manage the exciting new expansion at the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center.
“He also led the opening of the Irving Convention Center in Las Colinas, so he is uniquely qualified to bring his expertise to this vital development project in Broward County.”
Ben Weeden has been made chief financial officer of Live Nation’s venue division, Venue Nation.
Weeden has been with Live Nation since 2005 and was most recently the chief operating officer of Live Nation’s clubs and theatres sector. In this position, Weeden oversaw talent booking, marketing, operations and business development of Live Nation’s owned or operated small and mid-sized venues.
During Weeden’s tenure in this role, the venues he worked with hosted roughly 10,000 events each year, which amassed some eight million ticket sales annually.
Do you have news of an appointment that we should know about? Get in touch by emailing [email protected] and we’ll include it in our next round-up.