Hevern Named Allphones Arena GM

He replaces Guy Ngata, who returns to New Zealand after accepting the CEO role at Eden Park, Auckland. Hevern is currently GM of Qantas Credit Union Arena (formerly Sydney Entertainment Centre), which is closing in December. He took over that role in December 2013 after stepping in as GM of Perth Arena a year before following the death of David Humphreys.

Harvey Lister, AEG Ogden chairman and CEO, hailed Hevern as “an outstanding venue manager and one of company’s real success stories.

He has done magnificently in difficult circumstances in his General Manager roles at Perth Arena and Qantas Credit Union Arena and he has earned the opportunity to manage one of the most prestigious and successful arenas in the country.” Lister also acknowledged Ngata’s “tremendous job in the past three years in establishing Allphones Arena as one of the most successful worldwide. We wish him every success in his new role at Eden Park.” Ngata begins Jan. 1 as CEO of the Eden Park Trust board that operates the 50,000-seat sports and entertainment Eden Park Stadium, the largest venue in New Zealand.

He replaces David Kennedy, who left in August. New Zealand-born Ngata was chief executive at Auckland’s Vector Arena for three years from April 2007 and as GM of Shanghai’s Mercedes-Benz Arena for another three years. He moved to Allphones Arena in September 2012.