ASM Global appoints GM for Lisbon’s LX Factory venues
ASM Global has appointed Hugo Encarnação as general manager of Fabria XL and Fabrica L at LX Factory, a cultural hub in Lisbon.
Encarnação will assume his new role on 10 October as ASM Global secures operations of the two live event spaces – the firm’s first in Portugal.
Encarnação most recently worked as senior producer and account manager at Europalco, leading the planning and execution of high-profile events.
His background in sales and events operations, and extensive Conferences & Events (C&E) experience, makes him well positioned to drive success at LX Factory’s venues, says ASM.
“We are thrilled to have Hugo on board as we begin our new chapter in Portugal,” says Marie Lindqvist, SVP operations at ASM Global Europe.
“We are thrilled to have Hugo on board as we begin our new chapter in Portugal”
“Hugo will be planting the ASM Global flag in Lisbon, leading the charge as we proudly take on operations at LX Factory. With his passion and expertise, we are confident that Hugo will lead his team to new heights of operational excellence and creative success in this new market, as we continue to solidify our position as market leader across Europe and our reputation as the world’s best in venue expertise and management.”
Encarnação adds: “I’m very excited to be joining ASM Global and leading the iconic Fábrica XL and Fábrica L—two venues as vibrant and unique as Lisbon itself. LX Factory is a creative powerhouse, and I can’t wait to work with the team to make it an even bigger stage for unforgettable events. Together, we’ll blend innovation with a dash of Portuguese charm—delivering top-tier experiences with all the warmth and energy that makes this city so special. And who knows? Maybe we’ll inspire some unforgettable memories, just like a perfect sunset over the Tagus River!”
In June this year, ASM Global announced that it was entering Portugal, having won the contract to manage operations at two of LX Factory premier venues.
The site, situated within a converted factory complex in the Alcântara area 10 minutes from the city centre, comprises retail concepts, dining options, outdoor bar spaces, live music, cultural events, and art installations.
ASM will operate the two live music venues, Fábrica XL and Fábrica L – which have a combined standing capacity of 2,870 – and the outdoor bar, terrace and gallery spaces.
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Kilimanjaro Live hires promoter Lottie Bradshaw
UK promoter Kilimanjaro Live has expanded its team with the appointment of Lottie Bradshaw.
Bradshaw will work alongside director and promoter Alan Day, primarily injecting her expertise into Action! Presents, Kili’s promoting brand for rock, metal and punk talent.
Outside of Action!, she will also promote shows across a range of genres including pop and country.
The promoter spent seven years at TEG Live Europe where she was initially head of venue programming. During that time, Bradshaw worked with venues such as Camden Assembly, XOYO and Tramshed before becoming a promoter, working with artists such as RORY, The Aces, GIRLI and VUKOVI.
“Lottie has been on our radar for a while, working with some brilliant acts”
Prior to TEG, Bradshaw was assistant to Emma Banks at CAA working with artists including Katy Perry, Kraftwerk, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Florence and the Machine, honing her knowledge and skills of deals, contracts and touring.
“I’m so excited to be working with such a talented group of people who have pioneered so much in the live sphere,” says Bradshaw. “Alan is a great mentor, and I feel immensely grateful for the opportunity to help grow Action! and beyond.”
Day adds: “We are really proud to welcome Lottie onto the team. Lottie has been on our radar for a while, working with some brilliant acts. Rock is bigger than ever and together we look forward to putting on some great shows.”
Formed by Alan Day in 2021, Action! Presents has a strong focus on alternative acts such as Don Broco, BABYMETAL, Sabaton, Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes, While she Sleeps, Bullet For My Valentine and many more.
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AO Arena ups Gemma Vaughan to acting GM
ASM Global has promoted Gemma Vaughan to acting general manager of AO Arena in Manchester, UK, with immediate effect.
Vaughan joined ASM Global in 2023 as sales and marketing director at AO Arena, having previously held roles at Live Nation, Cuffe & Taylor and Manchester’s Escape to Freight Island.
During her 14-year career, she has worked as a promoter and marketer, and supported artists such as Faithless, Cliff Richard, Mariah Carey and Britney Spears.
Since joining ASM, Vaughan has been involved in the re-imagining of the AO Arena with the launch of The Mezz, the UK’s first celebrity chef restaurant and bar experience inside a live music venue. The Manchester-born exec also sits on the board of Brighter Sound and the Manchester Music City network.
“Gemma has a wealth of understanding of the wider UK music business and the needs of the local Manchester market”
Vaughan takes over from Jen Mitchell, who has managed the AO Arena since 2022.
“The AO Arena is embarking on another year of unprecedented demand,” says Chris Bray, president of ASM Global Europe. “Gemma has a wealth of understanding of the wider UK music business and the needs of the local Manchester market. Through her work at the forefront of the recent £60m reimagination of the arena, she has demonstrated her passion for this brilliant city, its cultural footprint and our ambition to deliver the ultimate in live entertainment experiences to the people who live here. It’s a very exciting time for the venue and for the city.”
In January 2024, AO Arena announced the completion of its £60 million redevelopment, as well as the extension of its naming rights partnership.
As a result of the redevelopment, the arena’s capacity has increased to 23,000, reinforcing its place as one of Europe’s biggest indoor venues.
The arena, which welcomes more than one million people to the venue annually, is set to host events with Peter Kay Live, Chris Stapleton, Becky Hill and Les Misérables.
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Wembley installs Mark Lynch as stadium director
London’s Wembley Stadium has installed Mark Lynch as its new stadium director.
Lynch joins from the Rugby Football Union (RFU), where he was executive director of venue, with responsibility for Twickenham Stadium including operations, revenue, events and long-term development.
In his new role, Lynch will be responsible for overseeing the overall delivery of events at Wembley, in addition to managing day-to-day operations, sales and revenue for the stadium.
“I am delighted to take up the position of stadium director at England’s national stadium,” says Lynch. “Wembley Stadium is an iconic venue recognised around the world. It has a history of hosting the biggest and best sports, music and entertainment events and I look forward to continuing that work in the next stage of the venue’s development.”
Prior to the RFU, Lynch served as operations director at Yas Marina Circuit, home of the Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. He has also worked on two FIFA World Cup tournaments, as well as for a leading marketing and experience agency.
The stadium has hosted 32 events already in 2024, including a record eight-night run by Taylor Swift
Former Wembley Stadium director Liam Boylan left the venue in 2023 after nine years and has since resurfaced as CEO of Academy Music Group, while Wembley’s head of event operations Paul Smyth was upped to the position of stadium general manager last November.
The 90,000-cap stadium has hosted 32 events already in 2024 including a record eight-night run by Taylor Swift, which was attended by more than 700,000 people. Wembley’s summer music calendar has also included Capital’s Summertime Ball, as well as concerts by Green Day, AC/DC and Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band.
Dua Lipa is the first act confirmed for 2025, with two sold-out headline dates at the venue scheduled for 20-21 June.
The stadium has also undergone significant change in the last 12 months following the completion of an investment programme which saw major upgrades to security, hospitality and entertainment areas across the venue.
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ASM Global APAC announces Tim Worton replacement
ASM Global (APAC) has appointed Meagan Walker as group director of arena operations, replacing veteran Tim Worton CVE, who announced his retirement earlier this year.
Walker has held senior management roles with some of Australia’s most successful and high-profile venues including Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena, Margaret Court Arena, John Cain Arena and Palais Theatre.
Her experience in the industry takes in the “full gamut” of live events hosted at ASM Global’s arenas, convention centres and other venues including concerts, sporting events and family spectaculars, according to the firm.
In her new role, Walker will lead the ASM Global arena network in Australia while supporting other arenas in the region with a focus on event acquisition, operational planning for best practice patron experience and event delivery.
She will join ASM Global on 10 October from her current role with Live Nation.
“The depth and scale of Meg’s experience in the operation of major events and live entertainment is the perfect fit to lead our portfolio of world-class arenas,” says ASM APAC Chairman, Harvey Lister.
“The depth and scale of Meg’s experience in the operation of major events and live entertainment is the perfect fit”
“Both Meg Walker and Tim Worton have long been recognised as legends in the industry and we are so fortunate to be the recipients of their expertise and professionalism as part of our management team. Meg has proven to be an accomplished event professional with strategic and collaborative leadership skills.”
Lister adds that one of Walker’s greatest talents is her ability to mentor the next generation of aspiring venue managers, which will be a key part of her role to support the company’s continuing growth.
The exec has been involved with the Venue Management School for 13 years and the Leadership Institute since its inception and serves as a board member of the Venue Management Association (VMA).
“I look forward to contributing to the ongoing strong performance and growth of the ASM Global portfolio by collaborating with all stakeholders and supporting the team to achieve their personal and professional goals, while ensuring ASM arenas maintain their world’s best practice reputation,” comments Walker.
“I know ASM to be deeply passionate about making an experience – the experience – for patrons and stakeholders and I look forward to supporting that shared goal.”
Walker fills the role left by Tim Worton, who has worked at ASM Global for 25 years. Worton will work with Walker during the transition before vacating the role to pursue a pastoral chaplaincy role.
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TEG Live names Tim McGregor global head of touring
TEG Live’s managing director Tim McGregor has been appointed global head of touring, overseeing the firm’s concert and festival portfolio.
With effect from today, McGregor is responsible for overseeing the continued growth of the global touring businesses across Australia, New Zealand, Asia, UK, Europe, and North America.
This portfolio includes TEG Live, TEG Dainty, TEG Van Egmond, TEG MJR, Handsome Tours, Laneway Festival, TEG Asia, TEG Live Europe and TEG North America.
McGregor has been the MD of TEG Live since joining the business in 2016.
“I am delighted to appoint Tim to the role of global head of touring,” says TEG Group CEO Geoff Jones. “Tim’s outstanding track record in the live entertainment industry draws on more than three decades of experience. His in-depth industry knowledge and excellent business acumen makes him the ideal choice to lead the overall concert and festival touring strategy for TEG across the globe.”
“”Tim’s outstanding track record in the live entertainment industry draws on more than three decades of experience”
“I look forward to continuing to work closely with Tim in his new role to drive growth and success for the TEG business.”
McGregor adds: “I am excited to be furthering my remit with TEG to build its touring operations both locally and globally. I am immensely proud of all that we have achieved to date, but this is only the beginning.
“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Geoff for this opportunity and for his ongoing support. We’ve been on a long journey together, and I look forward to embarking on the next phase of TEG with Geoff and the senior leadership team.”
Based in Sydney, TEG is a specialist in live entertainment, ticketing, digital and data.
Earlier this year it was reported that the owner Silver Lake had secured a A$1.1 billion (€663.8 million) dividend recapitalisation for the Australian live entertainment giant after attempts to sell the company stalled.
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FKP Scorpio enlists third CEO
FKP Scorpio has promoted Freddie de Wall to co-CEO, serving alongside founder and CEO Folkert Koopmans and CEO Stephan Thanscheidt.
De Wall, who was previously COO at the European concert and festival organiser, will be responsible for driving forward the group’s international business among other things.
“I am delighted to be able to open another chapter in my role at FKP Scorpio with this new responsibility,” says de Wall. “We have not only grown strongly as a team in recent years but have also consistently developed business areas in new markets. I am proud that I can continue to drive this development forward and would like to thank Folkert and Stephan for the trust they have placed in me by taking this step.”
Koopmans comments: “I got to know Freddie back in the eighties when he offered me the headliner for a festival I was promoting. Today, he is not only an experienced executive but also a valued colleague in the group. His international management experience and his excellent network will undoubtedly also benefit him as CEO in order to continue to grow our future business.”
“With the three of us, we are ideally positioned to continue to grow strategically and healthily across the entire group”
Thanscheidt adds: “Our continued success requires good leadership. With the three of us, we are ideally positioned to continue to grow strategically and healthily across the entire group.”
De Wall is a former music- and artist manager with many years of experience in international management positions within the music industry.
At the beginning of the 1980s, he began his career as a promoter and tour manager for international artists, spending 20 years in management positions and as a managing director for major record labels.
De Wall has been working for Hamburg-based FKP Scorpio since 2017, during which time he has developed structures for the group’s international business operation. As CEO, he will continue to expand the international strategy and planning for the group.
In addition to the operations and management of the ten FKP Scorpio international offices, his role will include the responsibilities of Digital, IT, Sustainability and Legal, the firm says.
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CAA hires veteran agent Cheryl Paglierani
Veteran music agent Cheryl Paglierani, who has helped guide the live careers of artists such as Post Malone, 21 Savage and Dominic Fike, has joined CAA.
Paglierani joins the company’s global touring department from UTA, where she most recently served as a partner. She has played a pivotal role in the rise of clients including 21 Savage, who sold more than 140,000 tickets for his recent 30-date North American amphitheatre tour and will be headlining a number of European festivals this summer.
She has also worked with Post Malone from early in his career and throughout his development to becoming a worldwide superstar.
“We are thrilled to welcome Cheryl to CAA,” say Darryl Eaton & Rick Roskin, co-heads of global touring. “Cheryl has a deep understanding of artists and how they envision their careers, and she brings the expertise and tenacity to help make them a reality. Her acumen, experience, and character will make her an outstanding member of our team.”
Los Angeles-based Paglierani served a stint at CAA, as well as William Morris, earlier in her career and went on to work for The Agency Group prior to its acquisition by UTA in 2015.
“It’s an incredible feeling to return to CAA,” says Paglierani. “I’m excited to work with this extremely talented and driven team. I’ve been lucky to call so many of them friends for years and can’t wait to hit the ground running together.”
CAA, whose touring clients include The Weeknd, Ariana Grande, Harry Styles, Katy Perry, Lana Del Rey, Dua Lipa, Doja Cat, Blink-182, Kelsea Ballerini, Lady Gaga, Bruce Springsteen and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, has booked more than 38,000 shows over the last year.
“Cheryl is highly respected in the music industry for her ability to identify and elevate emerging talent and foster the careers of superstars”
“Cheryl is highly respected in the music industry for her ability to identify and elevate emerging talent and foster the careers of superstars,” says CAA’s co-chair and CEO Bryan Lourd. “Today’s announcement underscores the strength and momentum of CAA’s touring business and also speaks to the agency’s ongoing commitment to helping develop the careers of next-generation artists.”
Separately, the agency has named Elizabeth A Morrison as its first global head of inclusion, recruiting and development.
In her new position, she will lead the teams overseeing ongoing inclusion efforts, learning and development, in addition to recruiting programs across the agency’s offices and divisions.
“We are thrilled to have Elizabeth join us,” says CAA co-chair Richard Lovett, as per Deadline. “We always prioritise the development of our colleagues and an inclusive environment within our walls and beyond. Elizabeth’s professional experiences and expertise will further bolster CAA as a professional home where people of all backgrounds can be inspired daily, grow their careers, and best serve our clients.”
Morrison’s past roles include chief diversity, equity & inclusion officer and VP global talent management at Levi Strauss, having previously overseen diversity & belonging at Live Nation.
“I have long admired CAA for its highly regarded focus on collaboration and community, and for the agency’s deep and optimistic belief in what’s possible for employees and clients,” adds Morrison. “I am passionate about championing experiences that allow individuals to present their full and best selves within the workplace, and look forward to joining my new partners on this ever-evolving journey.”
Read IQ’s latest feature about how live music firms are diversifying the workforce here.
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Lee Anderson named president of Wasserman Music
Agency giant Wasserman has announced the promotion of Lee Anderson to president of its music division.
Anderson is a founding member of Wasserman Music’s executive leadership team and has helped to craft the music department’s business strategy and growth plan, which has seen its staff triple in size while expanding its global footprint and artist service offerings.
“As our music business has continued to grow and expand, Lee has taken on an increasing number of leadership responsibilities and has been instrumental in shaping the foundation of Wasserman Music and charting a path for even broader global success,” says Casey Wasserman, chair and CEO of Wasserman.
Los Angeles-based Anderson previously held senior leadership roles at AM Only, which was acquired by Paradigm in 2017. Paradigm’s North American live music representation business was acquired by Wasserman in 2021 to create Wasserman Music.
“From day one, we’ve built Wasserman Music on two core principles: to be the best place to work and the best place for artists to be represented”
“From day one, we’ve built Wasserman Music on two core principles: to be the best place to work and the best place for artists to be represented,” said Lee Anderson, president of Wasserman Music. “I’m honoured to accept this new role, but my mission remains the same: to work closely with my colleagues on our executive leadership team to ensure that we remain true to our vision and consistently deliver the best results for our clients and our global team.”
The company’s reporting structure will remain the same, with Anderson taking on additional leadership responsibilities.
In addition to serving as president, Anderson represents music artists including Cautious Clay, Charlotte de Witte, David Guetta, Disclosure, ISOxo, Kenny Beats, Knock2, Oliver Tree, Skrillex, Swedish House Mafia and Zedd.
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Legends installs ex-Meta executive Dan Levy as CEO
Premium experiences specialist Legends – which agreed a deal to acquire ASM Global last year – has appointed ex-Meta executive Dan Levy as CEO.
Levy, who joined Legends last month as interim president, served at Meta/Facebook for almost 15 years, latterly as VP of business messaging, before departing the company in 2023.
First reported by Sports Business Journal, Levy’s appointment will see former Legends’ CEO Shervin Mirhashemi transition to the position of vice-chair at the company.
“We are poised to take Legends to new horizons at the forefront of sports and entertainment”
“You have my commitment that this next chapter of Legends’ growth trajectory will be the most impressive yet,” Mirhashemi told employees in an email. “With Dan as CEO, together with [co-president and COO] Mike Tomon and the rest of our seasoned management team, we are poised to take Legends to new horizons at the forefront of sports and entertainment.”
Levy’s recent arrival at Legends coincided with the departures of multiple Legends executives, including former co-president and chief corporate officer Curt McClellan and longtime president of hospitality Dan Smith, who moved into a senior advisory role. The firm named Tom Funk as president, hospitality, in January.
Legends’ reputed US$2.4 billion acquisition of ASM Global was announced in November 2023 and is currently awaiting approval from the Department of Justice (DOJ).
ASM Global, which was formed in 2019 following a merger between arena operators AEG Facilities and Onex’s SMG, operates buildings including ICC Sydney Convention Center, Avicii Arena in Stockholm, OVO Arena Wembley, Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai and State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
ASM equity holders AEG and Onex will sell their ownership interests as part of the agreement, while ASM will continue to serve existing and in-development AEG venues.
Founded in 2008, Legends is backed by global investment firm Sixth Street. The company’s fully integrated retail and merchandising vertical solution spans e-commerce, in-venue retail, large-scale live events, brick-and-mortar store operations, licensing and customer merchandise.
Its clients include prestigious brands such as Real Madrid, SoFi Stadium, Dallas Cowboys, FC Barcelona, New York Yankees, and Ryder Cup, as well as the NFL, MLB, NASCAR, PGA of America and FIFA World Cup.
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