Christopher BarrettOak View Group (OVG) owned Co-op Live (cap. 23,500) arena has announced the appointment of Ben Sharman as its new director of booking.
Sharman starts in the role today, 8 January, and his arrival at the Manchester venue coincides with Co-op Live director of strategic programming Katie Musham’s move into Oak View Group International, where she will work to expand the company’s programme of bespoke events and support its international expansion.
Sharman spent nearly 11 years at the NEC Group, having joined as group sponsorship manager in 2014 and working up to become the head of venue programming at its Utilita Arena in Birmingham and bp pulse LIVE (formerly known as Resorts World Arena). Among the many projects he was involved in was the delivery of the 2022 Concert for Ukraine, which raised £13 million for the UK’s Disasters Emergency Committee.
The appointment is the latest in a string of recent additions to Co-op Live’s senior leadership team, with Scott Feldman having joined as assistant general manager & operations director alongside security & facilities director Jon Hornby and GM & SVP Guy Dunstan in October.
On taking up the new role, Sharman said, “Joining Oak View Group and Co-op Live marks an exciting new chapter in my career after an incredible 11 years at the NEC Group, for which I’m deeply grateful. When the opportunity to work with the UK’s largest arena came, it was impossible to turn down. I’m eager to bring my experience in venue programming and strong industry relationships to cement Co-op Live’s status as a must-play venue in the global live events industry.”
OVG International executive vice president global touring and content Gary Hutchinson said, “We are delighted to welcome Ben Sharman to Co-op Live. His impressive career trajectory, unmatched expertise, and industry relationships make him the perfect choice to lead our booking strategy. We’re confident that Ben’s vision will further elevate Co-op Live as a premier destination for world-class events, and continue our established record for hosting the world’s most exceptional artists.”