ASM Global has announced a trio of promotions covering its work in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
Mark Jan Kar (left) has been promoted to senior vice-president of entertainment, content and programming for the region, as well as the general manager of Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai. The UAE’s first multi-purpose indoor events venue has been his focus since joining ASM Global in 2018, first as commercial director.
“The exponential growth and development across the MENA region mean we can harness the power and pure enjoyment of live entertainment and events across this region as a driver of, not only economic growth, but an envious lifestyle,” said Jan Kar.
“We recently hosted the Dubai Basketball team, who are playing for the first time in the ABA League and drew 4,000 fans to Coca-Cola Arena for a stunning win over defending champions, Red Star of Serbia.”
Meanwhile, Deb Rogers (right) has been promoted to the role of vice-president – people and culture for Asia and the MENA region, and Iain Wooldridge has been promoted to chief financial officer for MENA.
Rogers has over 25 years of experience in hotels, entertainment and events in Australia, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. Wooldridge has two decades of experience in financial leadership and strategic management across the UK and Middle East and been finance director of Coca-Cola Arena since 2019.
The Evolv Technology board has appointed Michael Ellenbogen, chief innovation officer and a member of the board, as interim president and CEO.
The development comes after the US security tech company, whose products are used in stadiums and arenas across the world, fired its president and CEO Peter George amid an internal investigation into its sales and financial reporting practices.
Slusher’s Olympic role
U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Properties (USOPP) has unveiled John Slusher as chief executive officer, leading the commercial joint venture between the LA28 Organising Committee for the 2028 Games and the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee.
Slusher will oversee all LA28/USOPP revenue streams including domestic sponsorship, consumer products, hospitality and ticket sales under LA28 chairperson and president Casey Wasserman and LA28 CEO Reynold Hoover. Slusher returns to LA after a 26-year tenure at Nike, where he led global sports marketing.
Oak View Group has named Alex Patton as senior director of booking, Canadian Alliance. Based in the OVG Canada office in Toronto, Patton will report to Tom Pistore, OVG Canada president, and Joe Giordano, vice president of OVG Stadium, Arena, and Theatre Alliance.
In her new role, Patton will spearhead the company’s strategy to enhance live event programming and content development for the Canadian Arena Alliance, OVG-managed Canadian entertainment and sports properties, and Hamilton Arena, the 18,000-seat arena currently undergoing renovations before reopening late next year in Hamilton, Ontario.
Premiership Rugby, which operates the top tier of rugby union in England, has appointed Kelly Cooke as commercial director.
Cooke joins from Wasserman, where she successfully helped secure a series title partnership for the British & Irish Lions ahead of their tour to Australia next summer.
Cooke has also supported the South African Rugby Union across partnerships and strategy, as well as working in with the Vancouver Canucks NHL ice hockey team in Canada.
She was formerly head of sponsorship at the United Rugby Championship and has experience in motorsports with Formula E in their global partnerships sales division.
Meanwhile, two key appointments have been announced by Premiership Rugby’s Sale Sharks.
Sale Sharks has boosted the club’s off-field team with the appointment of a new Commercial Director and a Head of Commercial Operations
New commercial director Luisa D’Aprano comes with a wealth of experience in sport, having been vice-president of partnership delivery and relationship manager, respectively, at English Premier League football clubs Liverpool and Manchester United.
She also held the post of commercial director at Co-op Live until February this year, when she joined sports sponsorship and marketing agency Plus as head of brand activations.
Additionally, Robbie Stott has joined Sale as head of commercial operations and will take charge of matchday operations and the fan experience at the Salford Stadium. Stott previously worked as event operations manager at NFL UK and as stadium event manager at Lancashire County Cricket Club.
Do you have news of an appointment that we should know about? Get in touch by emailing news.editor@thestadiumbusiness.com and we’ll include it in our next round-up.
