US-based AEG Facilities, the venue management affiliate of Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG), and SMG, a portfolio company of Onex, have merged to create a new standalone global facility management and venue services company, ASM Global.
Headquartered in Los Angeles, with key operational offices in West Conshohocken, a suburb of Philadelphia, as well as in London and Manchester in the UK and the Brazilian city of Sao Paulo, the new entity will be helmed by former AEG Facilities president Bob Newman, who has been named president and CEO of the new company effective immediately.
Prior to joining AEG Facilities, Newman spent more than 20 years at SMG, last serving as a regional vice president for the company. Wes Westley, former CEO and president of SMG, will focus his efforts on key strategic growth initiatives and ensuring a seamless integration.
Newman said in a statement: “This marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter in our industry and one that will establish a new standard of excellence in managing live experiences. Bringing together the combined global expertise of each company with the best content and cutting-edge technologies, we will be able to realise the full potential of the world’s greatest spaces, places and events, create amazing experiences for guests, offer exciting new opportunities to employees and deliver the highest value for all stakeholders. Equally important, our deep bench of talent and shared resources will enable ASM to accelerate innovation and capitalise on the growing market opportunities.”
ASM operates a diversified portfolio of arenas, stadiums, convention and exhibition centers, performing arts centers, theatres and other venues with more than 300 facilities across five continents.
Its Asia-Pacific affiliate, ASM Global (Asia Pacific), the former AEG Ogden, is based in Brisbane. Its network of venues includes convention & exhibition centres in Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Newcastle, Sydney, Christchurch (opening 2020), Kuala Lumpur, and Shenzhen (opening in 2020).
