2026 Impact 50 Honorees: Becky Colwell, Chris Granger & Amy Latimer

BECKY COLWELL
President, Programming and Content, Oak View Group

CHRIS GRANGER
Chief Executive Officer, Oak View Group

AMY LATIMER
Chief Business Officer, Oak View Group

ACTIVITY OUTSIDE OF WORK THAT KEEPS YOU SANE? “Spending time with my family, who have no interest in my job, is the perfect reminder that there’s a whole world outside of work.” – Becky Colwell

BY THE NUMBER: 3. Timeless lessons Chris Granger’s mentor David Stern, legendary commissioner of the NBA, taught him: 1) Global outlook. 2) The best talent wins. 3) Intense attention to detail.

FIRST CONCERT THAT CHANGED YOUR LIFE? ”First was the Go-Go’s and it was amazing. the energy and outfits!” – Amy Latimer

The past year has seen several key leadership changes at Oak View Group, Pollstar’s parent company. Chris Granger became OVG’s official CEO in late 2025 after serving as interim. Amy Latimer joined OVG in 2025 as the company’s first Chief Business Officer, and Becky Colwell, Pollstar 2025 Women Of Live cover honoree, joined in 2026 as President, Programming and Content after overseeing operations at Kia Forum and Intuit Dome in Southern California.

From an industry perspective, while Granger is the top corporate executive, the Impact 50 trio exemplifies a unified strategy for the global company with Latimer as one of OVG’s most influential commercial operators and Colwell as the executive responsible for maximizing content across OVG’s growing venue portfolio.

Among OVG’s highlights over the past year is major global growth, including the opening in November of TD Coliseum in Hamilton, Ontario, after a $300 million renovation; the announcement of a development project in Madrid; and a new joint venture in the Middle East. Granger also points to the continued success of the OVG Global Partnerships team with more than 40 naming rights deals secured and a rapidly growing brand consulting business.

Granger is focused on outcomes over changing circumstances. “Keep the main thing the main thing,” he says. “Focus on creating great live experiences, unmatched hospitality platforms, being the best partner and taking care of your employees. Focus on the work itself, not the noise. Too much attention is paid to the economy, global political conditions, etc. If you do great work with great people, the results will take care of themselves, irrespective of the macro environment.”

Closer to home, Granger is enthusiastic about the growth in the college space from F&B partnerships to booking deals to traditional venue management contracts and the company’s ongoing commitment to sustainability.

“Across our owned and managed venues, we are seeing progress in carbon reduction, waste diversion and water efficiency – we have seen the same from all of our partners in the GOAL platform – and we are seeing more and more venues hire dedicated sustainability professionals,” offers Granger. “We have come a long way as an industry in the last few years.”

For Latimer, who was COO of Delaware North and previously spent nearly three decades at TD Garden in Boston before joining OVG, it’s about building on the existing foundation and creating memorable experiences that have a meaningful impact on communities.

“Launching AHL and PWHL teams in Hamilton, Canada, has been a highlight for me,” she says. “Seeing the economic impact on the city and excitement these teams have generated within the community, especially among youth hockey players, is incredibly rewarding.”

Latimer believes the guest experience is a top priority.

“People have more choices on how they spend their time and money, which means every interaction matters,” says Latimer. “During times of economic uncertainty, it’s even more important to overdeliver so guests feel attending a game, show, or event was well worth the investment. By anticipating our guests’ needs and consistently creating memorable experiences, we can build loyalty and continue to succeed even during slower periods.”

As a new arrival to the OVG team, Colwell who served as General Manager of Halo Sports & Entertainment, says, the overall booking strategy is purposeful, “prioritizing one-offs and special events that elevate the building’s profile and keep the calendar dynamic.”

She adds, “Arenas have long succeeded by adapting – scaling production to fit any show and embracing non-traditional programming. … Staying creative is how we keep the building active and vibrant throughout the year.”

Granger, who led OVG360 (the company’s venue-management division) before assuming his role as CEO and whose background includes senior leadership roles with the NBA, the Sacramento Kings and Detroit sports and entertainment organizations – is optimistic about the future.

“At OVG we want to make a difference, not simply by ‘positively disrupting’ the industry, but in making the world a better place – by bringing people together, by lifting people up, and by bringing the magic of live entertainment to a global audience,” says Granger.