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John Langford has been elected president of the European Arenas Association (EAA), succeeding Ahoy Rotterdam’s Peter van der Veer, who stepped down earlier this year.
Langford, who was named chief operating officer of AEG Europe last November, was elected at the EAA’s latest general meeting, held recently in Barcelona.
“I am honoured to represent 35 of the leading European indoor arenas during this incredibly dynamic time in the live event sector,” comments John Langford.
“I am honoured to represent 35 of the leading European indoor arenas”
“Exciting changes in technology, the opportunity to make a positive impact through sustainability initiatives, and participating in the wider European conversations that impact our members and audiences are just a few of the areas where we are making a difference.”
Prior to van der Veer, the EAA was led by AEG’s Brian Kabatznick, now with rival operation Oak View Group, which recently launched its own International Venue Alliance.
The EAA has members in 22 European countries. In 2018, its 35 arenas welcomed more than 19.8 million customers to 2,933 events, according to its latest research report.
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Peter van der Veer has stepped down as CEO of both the European Arenas Association (EAA) and the Ahoy Rotterdam venue.
Van der Veer, who joined the association in 2006 and has been an active board member since 2012, was elected EAA CEO last April, replacing AEG Europe’s Brian Kabatznick. He had been joint CEO of the Ahoy – whose Ahoy Arena has a capacity of 15,000 – since 2011, alongside Jolanda Jansen, the pair taking over from Jos van der Vegt.
According to Jansen, van der Veer’s resignation – which “came as a surprise” to the venue’s 250 staff – came due to “some differences of opinion” with the Ahoy’s management. Jansen has confirmed to IQ she stays on as solo CEO.
“The group will elect a new president at their next meeting in Kaunas, Lithuania, in April”
In a statement provided to IQ on behalf of the EAA board, the association says it will elect a new CEO later this year.
“Peter van der Veer has resigned his position as president of the EAA,” it reads. “The group will elect a new president at their next meeting in Kaunas, Lithuania, in April. Until then the EAA board members are maintaining direction of the association.”
The EAA, founded in 1991, represents 36 arenas across 22 European countries.
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Peter van der Veer, CEO and co-owner of Dutch arena Rotterdam Ahoy (15,000-cap.), has been named president of the 35-strong European Arenas Association (EAA).
Van der Veer was elected at the association’s most recent AGM, held in Lisbon earlier this month, and succeeds outgoing president Brian Kabatznick of AEG Europe, whose three-year term has come to an end.
Van der Veer has been a member of the EAA since 2006 and an active board member since 2012.
He comments: “Our world changes at rapid speed. It requires a new view from us as venues. I am convinced that a platform such as EAA is essential in sharing ideas, in pulling the strings, in being pro-active on all important and relevant issues in the field of live events.
“I am honoured to have been chosen as president of this valuable platform”
“I am honoured to have been chosen as president of this valuable platform.”
Other EAA board members are Girts Krastins of Arena Riga (14,500-cap.), John Langford of the O2 (21,000-cap.), Jorge Silva of Altice (formerly MEO) Arena (20,000-cap.) in Lisbon and Lotta Nibbell of Scandinavium (14,000-cap.) in Gothenburg.
In 2017, European Arenas Association venues hosted more than 18.7m customers attending 2,899 events, according to the organisation’s most recent research report. According to IQ’s European Arena Yearbook 2017, produced in partnership with the EAA and UK National Arena Association (NAA), the European arenas business generated more than €1.4bn in 2016.
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