Alex Hill, who’s been elevated to president and CEO of AEG International. Photo Credit: AEG
Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) has officially announced “a realignment of its international business divisions,” including a key executive shift at AEG Presents.
AEG disclosed the realignment, billed as one component of an ongoing “growth strategy in major international markets,” in a brief release today.
Diving directly into the personnel pivots, Adam Wilkes, who’s proven “instrumental in building the company’s footprint in Asia-Pacific,” has been tapped to serve as AEG Presents’ president and CEO for Europe and Asia-Pacific.
The over 14-year AEG higher-up Wilkes is set to begin in that role on February 1st and will relocate from Singapore to London later in 2025, per the company. Meanwhile, as he oversees the live division’s operations in Europe and Asia-Pacific, the exec will collaborate “closely” with now-former AEG Europe head Alex Hill.
Hill, for his part, has been elevated to president and CEO of AEG International. Still based in London and overseeing AEG’s sports teams and venues in Europe, the 18-year company vet will also assume “responsibility for AEG’s new venue development and operations” in Asia-Pacific and different non-U.S. markets, the business summed up.
Lastly, on the organizational front, Wilkes will report to AEG Presents CEO Jay Marciano, with Hill working under Dan Beckerman, who leads AEG proper.
“By ensuring that our talent is focused on the right opportunities,” Beckerman added in part, “we will be well positioned to deliver growth, as well as new experiences and innovative services for our global artists, partners and fans.
“We have tremendous confidence in Adam and Alex,” he proceeded, “both of whom are seasoned strategic leaders with proven track records. Their understanding of our customers and markets, their deep industry experience, and their newly restructured responsibilities will position them to continue driving AEG’s international growth.”
This aggressive focus on international results isn’t new for LA-headquartered AEG, which in Q4 2024 expanded its AXS ticketing platform into Germany and partnered with Australia’s Playbill Group. Nor is the company behind Coachella (which has yet to sell through its second-weekend passes) alone in zeroing in on the global events sector.
In December, for instance, the Clockenflap owner Live Nation unveiled plans to construct a splashy Singaporean events space – its first music venue in Southeast Asia. And 2024 brought a number of high-profile live entertainment acquisitions in Europe, including KKR’s Superstruct buyout.
Earlier in January, Superstruct bought Boiler Room from London-headquartered ticketing platform Dice, which is itself reportedly exploring a sale.