AEG has announced a restructuring of its international divisions in order to strengthen the company’s focus on global growth.

As part of the realignment, Adam Wilkes will assume responsibility for AEG Presents’ regional operations in Asia-Pacific and Europe, in the new position of president and CEO of AEG Presents, Europe and Asia-Pacific.

As part of the newly expanded role, Wilkes will also oversee AEG Presents’ European regional offices, reporting to AEG Presents chairman and CEO Jay Marciano. He will relocate from Singapore to London later this year.

AEG says Wilkes has been instrumental in building the company’s footprint in Asia-Pacific since joining the firm in 2011, having led major initiatives such as a partnership with Frontier Touring, the development of Bangkok’s UOB Live, and Nagoya’s soon-to-open IG Arena.

The reshuffle will also see Alex Hill step up to assume leadership of all of the company’s global real estate and venue operations outside of the US, in the new position of president and CEO, AEG International.

Hill will remain in London and will continue to oversee AEG’s European sports teams and its venue and real estate portfolio, including The O2 in London and German properties in Berlin and Hamburg.

“By ensuring that our talent is focused on the right opportunities, we will be well positioned to deliver growth”

In addition, he assumes responsibility for AEG’s new venue development and operations in Asia Pacific and other international regions outside the United States. Having successfully led AEG’s European operations since 2019 – prior to which he served as COO and CFO – Hill will report to AEG’s president and CEO, Dan Beckerman.

Hill will be tasked with ensuring the success of new AEG venues coming online in Asia, including IG Arena in Japan. Hill will also be focused on advancing other ongoing projects such as the Bangkok Mall Arena and the arena-anchored entertainment district project planned for the redevelopment of the Osaka Expo Park.

Wilkes and Hill will assume their new positions on February 1, 2025.

“This new management structure aligns our international organisation with our corporate business and allows us to better focus our resources to best manage our existing businesses while also achieving our ambitious strategic growth initiatives around the globe,” says Dan Beckerman, president and CEO of AEG. “By ensuring that our talent is focused on the right opportunities, we will be well positioned to deliver growth, as well as new experiences and innovative services for our global artists, partners and fans.”

Beckerman adds: “We have tremendous confidence in Adam and Alex, both of whom are seasoned strategic leaders with proven track records. Their understanding of our customers and markets, their deep industry experience, and their newly restructured responsibilities will position them to continue driving AEG’s international growth.”

Marciano comments: “As the live entertainment industry continues its unprecedented global growth, ensuring seamless integration across our regions is critical to our success. Adam’s track record in building markets, coupled with his strategic vision and operational expertise, makes him the ideal leader to drive AEG Presents’ international expansion in Europe, further strengthening our global business.”

Earlier this month, AEG announced several promotions including Emma Bownes to senior vice president of venue programming across AEG’s European venues.

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AEG Europe has submitted a planning application for its proposed 8,500-capacity arena project in Edinburgh.

If granted approval by the city council, the venue will support the regeneration of the Edinburgh Park area alongside master developers Parabola.

Spanning 18,500 square metres, the arena is estimated to attract more than 700,000 visitors per year, with the company hoping to receive planning permission by June 2024 with a view of appointing an external contractor to start work thereafter.

“We are thrilled to be progressing with our plans for a spectacular new arena for Edinburgh,” says AEG Europe president and CEO Alex Hill. “The city has long been renowned as a destination for global culture and one of the world’s best for the arts and live entertainment. We’re excited to build on this reputation and bring world-class live music and entertainment to Edinburgh, as well as investing in the wider Edinburgh Park community through the creation of 1,000+ employment opportunities.”

“It’s been fantastic to see such strong support for our plans, and therefore we are hopeful for a swift and clear decision following our planning application”

The application follows a series of in-person public consultation events, held in December 2023 and January 2024. AEG has previously stated it hopes to launch the venue in 2027.

“We’re delighted by the feedback and valuable insights we’ve received during the extensive consultation and public exhibition process,” adds Alistair Wood, EVP of real estate & development for AEG Europe. “It’s been fantastic to see such strong support for our plans, and therefore we are hopeful for a swift and clear decision following our planning application.

“If we were able to secure planning permission, our focus would then immediately turn to identifying a building contractor and naming rights partner to bring this exciting project to life on site.”

Edinburgh’s current largest indoor venue is the 3,000-cap O2 Academy Edinburgh.

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Veteran AEG Europe executive Uwe Frommhold is to retire from his position as VP and COO AEG Germany after 17 years with the company.

Frommhold, who joined the company in 2007 when the company purchased the 16,000-cap. Color Line Arena in Hamburg (now the Barclays Arena), of which he was MD, will continue to serve AEG in a consulting role, working across selected projects.

“After careful consideration, and with the support of AEG Europe president & CEO Alex Hill and AEG Europe COO John Langford, I have decided the time is right to wind down my journey with AEG after 17 years with the company and 22 years in the venue business,” says Frommhold. “I am extremely grateful that I have been able to work with many incredible people during my tenure and shape the German live events landscape together with them. With a strong German leadership team in place, the time is right for me to step back.

“I would like to thank AEG for what has been an unbelievable journey and for continuously trusting and supporting me. Most importantly, I want to thank all the people at AEG, especially the teams in Hamburg, Berlin and London, who I’ve had the pleasure of working with during this time. I’m excited to see what’s next for the future of AEG in Germany and will be cheering the team on from the sidelines.”

“Renowned as a respected and well-connected leader, Uwe has indelibly shaped our business, our team and the industry”

VP & CFO Jan Kienappel will be promoted to the role of COO & CFO AEG Germany, reporting to Hill, when Frommhold’s retirement takes effect on 1 February 2024.

“As Uwe takes a step back and looks toward his well-deserved retirement, we extend our gratitude for his exceptional leadership and commitment to AEG Germany throughout his impressive 17-year tenure,” says John Langford, COO of AEG Europe.

“Renowned as a respected and well-connected leader, Uwe has indelibly shaped our business, our team and the industry. It is hard to believe that when Uwe joined AEG back in 2007 as arena director in Hamburg, the Mercedes-Benz Arena, Mercedes Platz and Verti Music Hall did not yet exist. Uwe has been instrumental in guiding AEG Germany to the market-leading position it enjoys today. The values he instilled in our German business have become the benchmark for the industry, and that says it all.”

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AEG Europe has unveiled plans for a new 8.500-cap arena in Edinburgh, Scotland.

The promoter and venue operator is seeking planning approval for the venue, which would be located in the heart of Edinburgh Park.

The park’s owner, award-winning developer Parabola, has agreed to sell the west Edinburgh site for the new venue to AEG, which notes the location offers “unrivalled” public transport and motorway access, including two nearby tram stops, two mainline stations, bus connections and motorway links.

Subject to approval, work is expected to begin in early 2025, with the first live events taking to the stage in 2027.

“AEG is thrilled to announce this spectacular new arena for Edinburgh,” says Alex Hill, president and CEO of AEG Europe. “It’s a location with immense potential, amplified by Parabola’s transformative development and regeneration of Edinburgh Park. The much needed 8,500-capacity arena will bring world-class live music and entertainment to Edinburgh, further cementing its reputation as a destination for culture and global tourism,. We look forward to this development becoming an integral part of the local community.”

“This investment will complement all that is on offer at Edinburgh Park and ensure that the arts and culture has an outstanding live performance facility”

A planning application will be submitted to the City of Edinburgh Council in the coming weeks, and it is anticipated the matter will then be determined within six months. Public consultation exhibitions will be held at Edinburgh Park as part of the planning process.

“Parabola is delighted to be working with AEG in the delivery of such an iconic venue for the city,” adds Peter Millican OBE, chairman and founder of Parabola. “This investment will complement all that is on offer at Edinburgh Park and ensure that the arts and culture has an outstanding live performance facility. The new Edinburgh Arena will put west Edinburgh on the map as a new cultural destination.”

The Scottish capital’s current largest indoor venue is the 3,000-cap O2 Academy Edinburgh, although the Royal Highlands Centre, situated on the outskirts of the city, holds 10,500 and is occasionally used for concerts.

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AEG Presents has announced that Jim King, current executive vice-president of live music, is to take on a new role as chief executive of European Festivals.

King’s appointment will launch the newly created European Festivals division, as AEG Presents looks to expand its presence in Europe. In his new role, King will seek out new opportunities in the festival space.

King previously worked for club brand Cream, later launching and running Creamfields festival. Prior to working at AEG, King ran his own company, Loudsound, which promoted and produced several UK festivals.

Since joining AEG Presents in 2008, King launched and produced BST Hyde Park in 2015 and All Points East in 2018.

The European Festivals boss will continue to work from AEG’s London office, reporting directly to president of AEG Europe, Alex Hill.

“I really believe that AEG does something truly special when it comes to festivals,” says King.

“I really believe that AEG does something truly special when it comes to festivals”

“The music fans and the artists are always at the heart of our thinking and this has meant we have been able to curate shows that resonate with them and keep both coming back.”

Hill, who says King “is without a doubt the very best at what he does”, expects “great things” from the European Festivals chief executive and his team.

“We wanted to give him [King] the freedom to accelerate AEG’s activity in the festival space hence the creation of this division and his leadership role at the head of it,” comments Hill. “Being able to confirm him in this job as we approach the second weekend of BST Hyde Park seems very fitting indeed.”

BST returns this weekend (13 and 14 July), with headline performances from Florence and the Machine and Robbie Williams. Tickets for the Saturday are still available, with general admission priced at £73.60 and VIP packages starting from £163.95.

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Alex Hill, currently COO and CFO of AEG Europe, is to take over as president and CEO of the company’s European operations at the end of 2018, succeeding Tom Miserendino, who has announced his retirement.

US-born Miserendino, 68, has been with AEG since 2002 and has served as AEG Europe president and CEO since October 2013. Hill assumes his new role on 31 December 2018.

“Alex is the perfect choice to succeed Tom,” says Jay Marciano, COO of AEG and chairman/CEO of promotion division AEG Presents. “He has been instrumental in helping to develop and execute our corporate strategy in Europe, which has strengthened and grown our regional operations. He is an inspirational leader and is very knowledgeable about our European operations, customers, partners and employees.

“We look forward to a smooth transition, and to continued operational and financial success under Alex’s leadership.”

Commenting on Miserendino’s retirement, Marciano adds: “Thanks to Tom’s exceptional leadership, AEG’s European operations have never been stronger. Under his guidance and management, we have completed two key corporate initiatives: the opening of Mercedes Platz, our new entertainment district in Berlin, and the opening of ICON Outlet, a premium outlet shopping centre at the O2.

“Additionally, over the past few years, we’ve expanded our venue portfolio, grown our music and festivals business, bolstered our infrastructure, developed important new projects, formed key strategic partnerships and entered into new business categories. He has also assembled the best management team in the industry.

“now is the perfect time to implement our succession plan so that I can spend more time with my family”

“I, along with all of my colleagues throughout the company, want to sincerely thank Tom for his dedicated years of service and his numerous contributions to AEG.”

Miserendino says: “It has been an honour to lead this great company and I am extremely proud of everything we have accomplished together. I also am confident that as Alex takes the lead, the company will continue its growth trajectory in Europe and that he and the team will further build on our solid foundation.

“With Alex’s extensive leadership experience and the overall strength of the company’s management team, now is the perfect time to implement our succession plan so that I can spend more time with my family. I am very confident that AEG’s best days continue to lie ahead.

Hill, who has been chief operating officer for the past six years and chief financial officer for the last 11, comments: “It has been a pleasure to work with Tom over the last five years, and I’m committed to continuing his legacy of excellence as AEG develops and delivers outstanding fan-focused experiences.

“AEG has long been leading the industry in responding to the continued customer demand for memorable and unique live experiences, and I look forward to working closely with our talented European teams as we pursue opportunities for our company to grow.”

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