Christopher BarrettIn his tenth year at AEG, John Langford is to relocate from London to Singapore having been appointed AEG International president APAC.
Currently AEG International’s EVP venues, Langford will commence the new role on 1 April, and is set to move to Singapore in September where he will be responsible for driving AEG’s expansion plans in the region.
A highly respected and experienced live events executive, Langford has regularly spoken at Access All Areas conferences including the Event Production Show. Prior to spending six years as chief operating officer at AEG, Langford first joined the company from Glasgow’s Scottish Event Campus in 2016 to take up the role of SVP & GM of The O2 arena.
AEG said Langford’s new role will see him lead the development and execution of its Asia-Pacific expansion strategy across venues and real estate, reflecting the company’s continued investment in the region as a priority growth market. He will assume responsibility for the overall business performance of AEG’s current and future portfolio of venues across the region, working closely with local leadership teams and joint venture partners to deliver the company’s strategic plans.
AEG has outlined that it regards the Asia-Pacific region as a major opportunity to expand its footprint. Its existing venues in the region include the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Shanghai, the recently opened IG Arena in Nagoya, and UOB Live Arena in Bangkok. It is working on new venue developments in Osaka and Bangkok.
“Asia-Pacific is a dynamic and strategically important market for AEG, with significant long-term potential,” said AEG International president & CEO Alex Hill. “John’s track record of delivering sustained performance, driving operational excellence and leading high-performing teams makes him the ideal leader to drive our ambitions in the region. I am excited to see his expertise applied across our expanding Asia portfolio.”
Langford added, “Over the past decade at AEG, I’ve had the privilege of working across an extraordinary breadth of roles – from leading the world’s busiest arena to overseeing operations across multiple international markets. That experience has given me a deep appreciation for the power of live entertainment to bring communities together and deliver meaningful impact.
“I have long admired Asia for its energy, cultural diversity and dynamic live music landscape. I’m excited to relocate and immerse myself more fully in the market, working alongside our talented teams and partners to build on the strong foundations already in place. There is tremendous opportunity ahead, and I look forward to helping to accelerate AEG’s expansion and further establish Asia-Pacific as a leading market for live music and world-class venues.”