CTS Eventim acquires Venuepoint
CTS Eventim is now the sole owner of Scandinavian ticket agency Venuepoint, after acquiring all remaining shares from its former partner Nordisk Film.
Germany’s CTS bought into Venuepoint in March 2016. The company is, according to the ITY 2017, a market leader in Denmark, Norway and Sweden, through its Billetlugen, Eventim.no and Eventim.se platforms, respectively. All Venuepoint platforms are in the process of being migrated to CTS Eventim’s systems.
Venuepoint CEO Jens B. Arnesen, who will stay on in his current role, comments: “Personally, and on behalf of my colleagues, I want to thank Nordisk Film for all their confidence and dedication. At the same time, I’m looking forward to further developing our business with the unique expertise of Europe’s leading ticketing provider, CTS Eventim.
“I am sure we will benefit … from the new, simplified ownership structure”
“I am sure that we will benefit not only from their resources and network, but also from the new and simplified ownership structure.”
“The Scandinavian countries are particularly attractive to us, not only because of their spending power, but also because of their strong digital affinity,” adds Alexander Ruoff, COO of CTS Eventim. “Therefore, we are very much looking forward to actively contributing to Venuepoint’s further growth over the long term. At the same time, I sincerely thank our former co-owners at Nordisk Film for our trustful collaboration and all the progress we have achieved over the past two years.”
Asger Flygare Bech-Thomsen, CEO of Nordisk Film Cinemas, says Eventim is “the best possible sole owner” to “take Venuepoint to the next level”.
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Venuepoint eyes Nordic expansion under new CEO
Venuepoint, the pan-Scandinavian ticketing platform part-owned by CTS Eventim, has hired a new CEO.
Jens B. Arnesen, who moves into his new role on 1 March, was most recently country manager at streaming service C More Denmark. Prior to this, he was sales and marketing director at Danish media company Berlingske, where he was responsible for, among other things, ticket sales for entertainment, sports and business events, and was previously a VP at Danish telco TDC and CEO of pay-TV company Canal Digital.
At Venuepoint – a JV between CTS Eventim and Egmont’s Nordisk Film, launched in March 2016 – Arnesen’s focus will on growing the company and increasing ticket sales throughout the Nordics.
Oliver Främke, senior vice-president of international business development at CTS Eventim, comments: “We’re delighted that Jens will dedicate his entrepreneurial spirit and industry expertise in shaping the next chapter in Venuepoint’s growth story. Our joint venture with Nordisk Film has already helped us strengthen our market position under the Venuepoint umbrella in Denmark, Norway and Sweden over the past two years.
“I look forward to working with skilled and ambitious colleagues in strengthening Venuepoint’s position as a leading ticketing provider in the Nordics”
“Now we’re ready to expand on this, and look forward to Jens’s and his team’s contributions.”
“I look forward to working with skilled and ambitious colleagues in strengthening Venuepoint’s position as a leading ticketing provider in the Nordics,” adds Arnesen. “Over the past 15 years, Venuepoint has built a unique local market expertise and strong partnerships with our clients. With our parent company CTS Eventim providing a world-class ticketing platform and continuous product development, Venuepoint has an even stronger competitive advantage as an attractive business partner, offering the best possible ticketing solutions to our many clients.”
Jay Sietsema, formerly of AEG’s Stockholm Globe Arenas, joined Venuepoint as country manager for Sweden last January.
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Jay Sietsema to head up Venuepoint in Sweden
Jay Sietsema has joined Venuepoint, a pan-Scandinavian ticketing operation backed by CTS Eventim, as country manager for Sweden.
Sietsema (pictured) most recently served as senior business development manager at AEG Facilities’ Stockholm Globe Arenas, which operates the 16,000-capacity Ericsson Globe, and was previously a promoter at EMA Telstar/Live Nation Sweden.
Copenhagen-based Venuepoint, previously owned solely by Danish media group Egmont, was last March merged with CTS Eventim’s Swedish operation to create a joint venture in which Eventim has a 50% stake.
“Venuepoint already has an excellent base of premium clients and content,” comments Sietsema. “In a year when we will merge the local knowledge, service level and competence of the Venuepoint staff in Sweden with the technology, support, longevity and strength of Europe’s leading ticketing company, CTS Eventim, the sky is the limit as to how far we can take it.
“I am really pleased to be onboard and look forward to working with all the great people in this new organisation.”
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