We round up the latest movements from the ticketing sector and associated industries…
Ticketing and live entertainment company CTS Eventim has appointed Dr Cornelius Baur as deputy chairman of the Supervisory Board.
Dr Baur succeeds Professor Jobst Plog, who decided not to stand for re-election after 16 years in the role. From 2014 to 2021, Dr Baur headed up the German office of management consulting firm, McKinsey, a role that also included organisational responsibility for the Austrian office in Vienna. In 2021, he became chief executive of the European Healthcare Acquisition and Growth Company.
Dr Bernd Kundrun, chairman of the Supervisory Board, added: “I am delighted that we were able to win Dr Baur for this role. He brings outstanding international management skills to the board and his expertise will be an invaluable asset as we seek to drive forward the development of CTS Eventim. I would also like to thank Professor Plog for his many years of dedicated service on the supervisory board of our company and wish him all the best for the future.”
Dr Baur added: ““As coronavirus restrictions are being lifted, people are excited to be able to enjoy more cultural activities and live events again. And so am I. The fact that I am able to play a part at CTS Eventim in making this happen fills me with gratitude and pride.
“I look forward to being part of a constructive Supervisory Board that collaborates closely with Klaus-Peter Schulenberg, Andreas Grandinger and Alexander Ruoff on the Board of Management.”
Elsewhere, commercial ticketing business for the sports sector, The Mike Burton Group, has appointed a new chief executive.
Justin Hopwood has been appointed CEO after being moved up from the role of chief commercial officer. Hopwood is replacing Ian Edwards, who announced his retirement at the end of April after 32 years with the business.
Hopwood will continue on the Boards of the company’s two joint venture businesses with the British and Irish Lions and England Rugby, as well as the Boards of Sports Travel and Hospitality Group (STH Group), a joint venture with Sodexo. He re-joined The Mike Burton Group in January 2020 after four years at Emirates Old Trafford and Lancashire Cricket as sales and marketing director. Prior to this, Hopwood spent 10 years at the Mike Burton Group.
Chairman Mike Burton said: “I am delighted Justin has accepted the responsibility to lead and shape the business. He understands, and has been central to, our ethos and ambitions, combining this with a wealth of strategic understanding and passion for this organisation.”
Jolene Herz (pictured right) has been made the vice-president of booking for the Kia Forum in Inglewood, California.
Her role will include overseeing all live events at the venue. Herz will continue to report to Geni Lincoln, general management and senior vice-president, live events, at the Kia Forum.
Herz has been with the venue since 2016 when she was named the booking manager, before being promoted to booking director in 2018. She began her live entertainment career as a booking assistant with entertainment company Live Nation in 2000 before moving to promoter Nederlander Concerts. She then worked at the Kia Forum (under SMG) between 2007 and 2010, before returning to Live Nation and landing back at the Kia Forum in 2016.
“I’m honoured to be recognised by my colleagues at the Kia Forum and couldn’t ask for a better team to work with,” said Herz. “I look forward to continuing to expand the impressive list of artists and events we’ve brought to the venue and build upon the strong community we’ve created thus far.”
OVG360 has appointed Starr Butler-Jemison (pictured left)as senior vice-president of content development and private events, a new division focused on private functions, major corporate events and content development.
Butler-Jemison will begin her new role on July 5 and will report to Chris Granger, president of OVG360, which is the third-party, venue management, venue services and hospitality division of Oak View Group, a venue development, advisory and investment company for the sports and live entertainment industries.
She will join OVG360 from the 2020-21 National Basketball Association (NBA) Champions Milwaukee Bucks, where she served as the vice-president of booking and events for Fiserv Forum arena and Deer District.
“I am thrilled to be joining the talented OVG360 team at such an exciting time in the organisation’s expansion,” Butler-Jemison said. “OVG’s recent acquisition of Spectra has unlocked enormous opportunity, and all of the venues in the OVG360 network will benefit.
“I’ll be looking at ways to program and route unique content, to invest in content development where it makes sense, and to build out an exciting corporate and private events platform across our family of venues – from arenas to convention centres, and from stadiums to state fairs. I look forward to building on OVG’s legacy of creating unforgettable experiences for our guests.”
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