ASM Global has appointed Bob Papke as the company’s first vice-president of industry relations and client development.
In his newly created role, Papke (pictured centre) will oversee entertainment industry relations for all 80-plus theatres and performing arts centres managed by ASM Global. He will also continue as general manager of the Maxwell C. King Center for the Performing Arts in Melbourne, Florida, and supervise several ASM Global-managed venues.
Papke will focus on interfacing with key partners, maintaining relationships with industry players, and developing new business opportunities for theatres and performing arts centres. He will also continue to support ASM Global’s live entertainment/theatres division, working directly with Will Beekman, the company’s newly-named vice-president of theatre operations and content development.
Experiential media and immersive technology company Cosm has appointed Corey Breton as its first head of venues.
The new role has been established to build on the company’s momentum towards its forthcoming immersive entertainment venues. Cosm is currently building its first public venue at Hollywood Park, the 300-acre sports and entertainment destination that is home to SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
Breton (pictured left) will lead operations for Cosm’s Hollywood Park venue, as well as a new location opening in Dallas. He joins Cosm from Legends, where he had served as chief revenue officer for its global attractions division since 2018, having previously worked at Los Angeles FC, Minnesota Timberwolves, Atlanta Hawks and Phoenix Suns
SRJ Sports Investments, a new vehicle created by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), has announced the appointment of Danny Townsend as chief executive.
He will lead the strategic direction of SRJ Sports Investments, which recently signed an investment agreement with the Professional Fighters League to acquire a minority stake in the mixed martial arts organisation and launch a new regional league in the Middle East and North Africa.
Townsend (pictured right) joins SRJ Sports Investments after his departure from Australian Professional Leagues (APL) earlier this month.
The Washington Commanders NFL team has appointed Andrew Sidney as senior vice-president of sales and service.
In this new role, Sidney will be responsible for leading the Commanders’ ticketing, suites, and services teams, as well as implementing strategies to optimise revenue and build strong fan satisfaction.
Sidney originally joined the franchise in 2021. Prior to starting his new role, he spent the last two seasons as vice-president of ticket sales.
LIV Golf has appointed Lawrence J. Burian as its chief operating officer.
Burian will oversee the Saudi-backed golf league’s corporate development and strategy, the delivery of its global schedule of 14 events, the management and commercialisation of its teams, the full integration of the international series, investor relations and more.
Burian formerly served as an executive vice-president with the Madison Square Garden family of companies. He worked closely with the executive management teams at MSG Sports, MSG Entertainment and MSG Networks to lead significant corporate and strategic transactions and initiatives.
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