Features
ASM Global Appoints MD For Aberdeen Venue
ASM Global has appointed Rob Wicks as managing director of P&J Live in Aberdeen, Scotland.
Wicks ASM Global with 25 years of experience in the sports and events industry, having worked with rights holders, brands, host venues, governing bodies, promoters and agencies.
He will begin his new role as managing director of the 15,000-capacity P&J Live on June 5, leaving his current position as commercial director at Aberdeen Football Club, where he has been responsible for all football club revenue streams, including partnerships and sponsorships, hospitality, ticketing, retail, memberships, marketing, communications, events, and new stadium planning.
Wicks has “a proven track record of delivering record commercial growth, implementing transformational change, developing successful commercial and communication strategies, results-based innovation, and thriving strategic alliances,” according to the hiring announcement.
Wicks hails from South Africa, and has worked in Europe for the past two decades. He has delivered projects and events in 25 countries.
See: ASM Global Partners With UK Music Therapy Charity Nordoff And Robbins
Marie Lindqvist, SVP operations Europe at ASM Global, and a Pollstar and VenuesNow 2022 Impact International honoree, commented, “On behalf of everyone at ASM Global, I’d like to warmly welcome Rob to the team. Rob brings with him decades of experience as a widely-respected, innovative and results-driven leader in the events and sports industries. Having seen great success working with renowned brands, events and organisations in Scotland and beyond, Rob will undoubtedly be a tremendous driving force in his new role as P&J Live, a truly versatile and award-winning venue, looks to the future.”
Wicks added, “ASM Global is on a clear growth trajectory and P&J Live is a vitally important part of its European venue portfolio, so this a very exciting time to be coming on board. I see this as a terrific opportunity to play a leading role in Scotland’s new state-of-the-art event complex achieving its full potential. I already know some of the passionate and talented team who operate the venue and having spent the past five years in Aberdeen, I am able to bring a strong network and range of local experience to the role. The mix of a modern, world-class arena, sizable conference and exhibition areas and flexible hospitality space means the venue is agile and able to adapt to meet the needs of a wide range of activities and entertainment genres which is going to be key to future growth.
See: Lewis Capaldi Breaks Scottish Indoor Concert Record At P&J Live
“Some of the key priorities that I see in the short to medium term are to enhance our key stakeholder relationships, better understand our customer base, look at ways to integrate innovative new technology to enhance the customer journey and ensuring there is an outstanding pipeline of world-class conferences and events to look forward to.”
P&J Live opened its doors in 2019. The building has 48,000 square meters of multi-purpose event space, including conference facilities and exhibition halls, in addition to its state-of-the-art arena, and hospitality offers. The largest event complex in the North of Scotland has been awarded multiple times in its few years since opening, including Venue of the Year at the AEO Excellence Awards 2022, Best Conference Venue at the Conference & Events Awards 2022, and Industry Supplier of the Year at the ABPCO Awards 2022.
The year ahead will bring a wide-range of conferences, awards, and events to P&J Live, including the Offshore Achievement Awards, Aberdeen’s Sports Awards, Jurassic Live, Energy Exports Conference, Michael Bublé’s “Higher” tour, Elton John’s “Farewell Yellow Brick Road” tour, Pet Shop Boys’ “Dreamworld Greatest Hits” tour, and more.