Martin Boyle has joined Business Events Sydney (BESydney) as client relationship manager UK/Europe. For the last four years, Boyle has worked at Congrex UK as director of association and conference development. Before that, he spent three years as corporate sales manager at Edinburgh International Conference Centre.
Paul Davis has joined Rock and Roll Fantasy Camp (RRFC) Enterprises as its new president. The company has relocated to Las Vegas. Most recently, Davis spent more than six years as VP of entertainment at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, where he was instrumental in the launch of the new Joint and bringing rock residencies to the venue. He has also worked at the MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, and Planet Hollywood. Davis is a Las Vegas native and earned his MBA at UNLV.
Tobin Center for the Performing Arts in San Antonio has appointed Michael Fresher as CEO. He began the new role May 21. Most recently, Fresher served as COO and CFO at Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts in Hartford, Conn. He was also GM of Bushnell Management Services.
AEG Ogden has made executive changes at a number of venues around Australia, making six senior executive appointments. Steve Hevern relocated from Sydney to Western Australia last year as interim GM at Perth Arena. Hevern will now move back to Sydney to help prepare to open the new International Convention Centre Sydney at Darling Harbour. He will also serve as general manager of Sydney Entertainment Centre. Michael Scott has been appointed GM of Perth Arena. Scott began his AEG Ogden career in 2001, when the company brought the catering operations in-house for the Perth Theatre Trust venues. Later, he oversaw catering operations at Subiaco and Members Equity Stadiums. Scott assumed the role of catering manager at Perth Arena last year. Other moves include bringing Group Director of Design John Kleindienst from the head office in Brisbane to Sydney. He has nearly 30 years of experience with AEG Ogden and will provide input into the design of the $1.3-billion ICC Sydney project, scheduled for completion December 2016. Phillip Corr, director of special projects in the Middle East for AEG Ogden, will return to Australia in July to serve as business manager for the preopening phase at ICC Sydney and financial controller at Sydney Entertainment Centre. To be based at AEG Ogden’s head office in Brisbane, Peter Loxton steps into the role of group business development manager. Last year, Loxton provided management services for the Australian Pavilion at the International Exposition in Yeosu, Korea. Also to be based in Brisbane, Mark Pitman will serve as group business manager and financial controller at AEG Ogden. Most recently, he served as financial controller at Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Christine Hurley has joined Tickets.com as chief financial officer. Hurley has served as VP, team finance for the National Basketball Association, as well as chief financial officer for Major League Baseball’s Los Angeles Dodgers. Most recently, Hurley was a partner at Pro Forma Advisors. She is a graduate of Northeastern University in Boston and completed the executive program at UCLA’s Anderson School of Management.
The Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau (DMCVB) has named Keith Kirsten as its new director of sales. Kristen brings more than 25 years of experience to his new role. Most recently, he served as director of Sales at the Rio Mar Beach Resort sales office in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Previously, he was assistant director of sales at the Reno-Sparks (Nev.) Convention and Visitors Authority.
Justin Kujawa has joined Nederlander Concerts as director of talent for Northern California, with an emphasis on Nederlander-managed San Jose (Calif.) Civic. Most recently, Kujawa served as senior talent buyer for Live Nation Entertainment, House of Blues Entertainment in Washington. He also worked as talent buyer for The Pageant in St. Louis, Mo., for five years, and as executive assistant to the VP of operations for Live Nation Entertainment in Chicago.
ETS International has hired Donna Libby as director of Sales for the company. She brings more than 23 years of hospitality industry experience to her new position. Previously, Libby held sales and management positions with Holiday Inn Express in Milford, Mass., and the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Natick, Mass.
Nicholas Manos has resigned as president of Atlanta’s Theater of the Stars. Manos will now focus on his executive producing duties for touring productions Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story, and Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, as well as trying to expand the reach of the Junior Theater Festival. Current VP/GM Brian Frey and Chief Financial Officer Robert Browne will lead Theater of the Stars.
Julie Margolin has been named director of food & beverage services at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. Most recently, Margolin was part of the opening team at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., for Levy Restaurants. She has previously been involved with the food and beverage operations at Staples Center and Nokia Theatre L.A. Live in Los Angeles, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, and Universal City Walk in Los Angeles.
The Agency Group has named Gavin O’Reilly as Worldwide CEO. O’Reilly has more than 20 years of corporate and media experience, having served as CEO of Independent News and Media PLC. He is also former president of World Association of News Publishers, based in Paris. Former Worldwide CEO of TAG, Neil Warnock, has stepped into the title of Founder and Worldwide President.
Lucius Woods Performing Arts Center in Solon Springs, Wis., is searching for a new executive director. Former Executive Director Pat Pluntz retired in April. He had been with the venue for 11 years.
Sabrina Prenger has joined the team at VOK DAMS in Hamburg, Germany. After studying in London, Prenger spent four years with SEAT S.A. in Barcelona. She also worked as events executive for American Express Barceló.
The Board of Directors of the Puerto Rico Convention Bureau announced the appointment of Milton Segarra-Pancorbo as president and CEO. Most recently, Segarra-Pancorbo worked in business development for medical tourism in Puerto Rico. He has also served as executive director of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company, and secretary of the Department of Economic Development and Commerce.
Ron Skotarczak has been promoted to executive vice president of marketing partnerships for the Madison Square Garden Company. Most recently, Skotarczak worked as senior vice president of marketing partnerships for MSG Sports. He joined the company in 2008 as senior CP of transformation sales. Before his time with MSG, Skotarczak served as president and director for Lightning Gaming, which he co-founded. He was also vice president at AND 1.
Ticketmaster has promoted Jared Smith to president of Ticketmaster North America. He joined Ticketmaster in 2003 and most recently served as the company’s chief operating officer. Before his time with Ticketmaster, Smith worked at the Columbus (Ga.) Civic Center, overseeing administration, sales and marketing.
Glen Thornborough has been hired as senior vice president of Sales for National Hockey League’s Boston Bruins and Delaware North Companies - Boston. Thornborough will be responsible for all TD Garden and Boston Bruins sales processes and strategies. Most recently, Thornborough worked with ReebokCCM in Montreal as VP of Global Marketing.
PASSINGS
SUE MCLEAN — 63, long-time promoter in Minneapolis and head of Sue McLean & Associates, May 17 after a long battle with cancer. McLean, who was born in Dayton, Minn., worked at a college radio station before joining promoter Randy Levy’s company in Minneapolis in 1974. She spent 10 years as special events director at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis before launching Triad Entertainment in the mid-90s. In 1998, she started Sue McLean & Associates, which will now be run by her niece Patricia. McLean is survived by her daughter, Lilly; brother, Terry, and his wife, Joan; sister-in-law Marilyn, and several nieces and nephews.