AEG’s live events and facilities divisions are to open new offices in New York and Paris as part of ambitious global expansion plans.
AEG Presents, the live music division, will set up its first site in France as it targets a repeat of its success since launching in the UK more than a decade ago. The company, which has invested in Paris’ Accors Hotel Arena and the Rock En Seine festival, described France as “one of Europe’s most important and vibrant markets for live music”.
Operating out of Paris, the team will be led by leading promotions executive Arnaud Meersseman, who will report directly to the chief executives of AEG Presents London, Steve Homer and Toby Leighton-Pope.
Meersseman (pictured), formerly the managing director of the MIALA/Fimalac group, is tasked with developing a promotions business centred on the French music scene, while at the same time actively supporting AEG’s international roster of touring artists.
Meersseman, who takes the role of general manager and vice-president of AEG Presents France, said: “I have always considered AEG to be best in class in developing venues and festivals that both meet the needs of today’s consumers and in the development of the Hyde Park festival build something truly befitting of the London Park, I am looking forward to taking this passion for excellence into the French market and I’m confident we can do some excellent work with both international and French artists as the new office gets underway.”
Meanwhile, AEG Facilities has opened a New York office to support the company’s venue management and services business on the US East Coast.
Richard Krezwick, a long-time AEG executive, will relocate from London to head the office having been named senior vice-president.
Krezwick will oversee East Coast operations, business development, marketing, and content development for AEG Facilities’ venues within the region while continuing his oversight of AEG Facilities European venues.
Bob Newman, president of AEG Facilities, said: “Rich has done an outstanding job with our facilities in Europe so when we took a strategic look at how we further strengthen our infrastructure and continue to deliver positive results for our partners, it was obvious that opening an east coast office with Rich at the helm was the answer.
“We are fortunate to have an industry veteran like Rich on our team.”
IMAGE: Benh Lieu Song / AEG
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