OVG Names Pell President of Premium Experiences

AT A PREMIUM: Josh Pell is Oak View Group’s new president of premium experiences and global strategy. (Courtesy OVG)

Katee LaPoff Appointed Chief Technology Officer

Oak View Group has named Katee LaPoff as Chief Technology Officer and Josh Pell as President of Premium Experiences and Global Strategy.

LaPoff will continue to report to Steve Collins, OVG’s president global venue development, Chief Financial Officer Ade Patton and President of OVG360 Chris Granger. Pell will continue to report to Collins as well as to OVG’s Chief Operating Officer Francesca Bodie.

Collins said he has worked with both Pell and LaPoff for years and is pleased to see them move inbto expanded roles with OVG, which is the parent company of VenuesNow and Pollstar.

“Katee’s vision and depth of experience make her the ideal person to develop the technology strategy across all of OVG’s businesses,” Collins said in a news release. “Josh’s first-hand knowledge at almost every level of hospitality management will continue to distinguish OVG’s premium level foodservice and retail experiences at our venues.”

LaPoff said OVG is pushing the boundaries regarding technology and she’s “thrilled to step into the CTO role and continue to work across divisions to deliver tech strategies that add value for our partners while bringing teams and artists closer to their fans,” she said.

Pell hailed OVG’s attention to detail.

“The opportunities to ‘Wow’ our guests and enhance the entire venue experience are endless,” he said. “I’m excited for the opportunity to continue to explore unique, innovative approaches to our hospitality offerings, leveraging our design and planning team, our world-class partners, and state-of-the-art technology.”

LaPoff has served for the past three years as Oak View Group’s senior vice president of project management and technology. She was responsible for the global strategy and execution of venue technology at the Moody Center, Acrisure Arena, and CFG Bank Arena.

Prior to joining OVG, LaPoff was the senior vice president of technology at Madison Square Garden Companies for 10 years and also she held a variety of positions at Sterling Project Development related to the management of large venue enterprise and information technology systems and operations. She earned her undergraduate degree at the University of North Texas and a master’s in management and organizational leadership at Regis University.

Pell, meanwhile, will oversee Oak View Group’s e-commerce platform and all premium opportunities while continuing to manage OVG’s hospitality, food and beverage, and technology design initiatives globally. He will oversee all owned-and-operated food and beverage programs. In his previous role as senior vice president of global hospitality strategy planning and development, Pell helped roll out the Moody Center, Acrisure Arena, and CFG Bank Arena. He joined OVG in 2022 after holding senior-level positions at T-Mobile Park, Chase Center and Petco Park.