Max SteventonEntertainment, ticketing and theatre production company ATG Entertainment has appointed former NEC boss Melanie Smith CBE as its new CEO.
She succeeds Ted Stimpson, who has worked with the ATG management team for the past three years.
Smith has more than 20 years of experience in executive and operational leadership roles across consumer and live events organisations.
She most recently served as CEO of the NEC Group, the UK events venue operator. Smith is also deputy chair of Sadler’s Wells and former CEO of Ocado Retail, where she served as its first CEO.
In January, ATG were appointed operators of a new 4,000 capacity venue in Milton Keynes.
“ATG Entertainment is an extraordinary business, synonymous with some of the world’s leading productions and the iconic venues that host them”, Smith said. “With a diverse portfolio of venues, productions and live entertainment experiences across the UK, Europe and North America, ATG is positioned to capture the continued global demand for live entertainment.”
ATG board member Andrew Tisdale said, “Mel is an exceptional leader. Her combination of operational rigour, strategic insight and genuine passion for theatre and live events makes her exceptionally well placed to lead ATG”