ASM Global aims to ‘dramatically’ expand investment

ASM Global, a leading producer of entertainment experiences, venue management and event strategy group, says it will ‘dramatically’ expand its rapidly growing project development programme and has named Liam Thornton (pictured) as EVP strategy and development to head the push. ASM Global president and CEO Ron Bension said: “We’re going to leverage the coming years for a period of unprecedented growth in our business space. Liam’s extensive experience, particularly in creating new developments and enhancing existing assets, will provide far and away the most diverse and enriching opportunities the industry has ever seen.” In Thornton’s new role, the former executive vice-president of development at Live Nation Entertainment will be responsible for strategic planning, market research, site selection, lease and partnership negotiations, development feasibility, site planning, project advisory, and investment analysis. ASM Global has development projects in a wide range of worldwide cities including Sydney, Edmonton, San Juan, Saudi Arabia and throughout the US. “ASM Global’s growth potential is unlimited,” Thornton said. “We’re already known as the world’s largest live-event physical platform with a marketing platform to match, which enables us to deliver fans and financial returns on a scale that no one else can deliver. We’re now accelerating our entry into equity investments and strategic partnerships as well as ramping up our project advisory services including feasibility studies, master planning and bringing start-up projects to fruition. “The world is craving live-event experiences more than ever, and ASM Global and investors want to be a part of those moments. No one has the breadth of events, venues, tenant partners and boots on the ground like ASM Global. At a full run, there are 164 million people coming through our venues already. We are very excited to grow that number.”