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The Scottish Event Campus is getting a new CEO, while there is a shake-up at the top of Live Nation subsidiary Neste Live!
By James Hanley on 22 Jan 2025
L-R: Dominic McKay & Andrew Fortin
The Scottish Event Campus (SEC), which includes Glasgow’s OVO Hydro, SEC Armadillo and SEC Centre, has appointed Dominic McKay as its new CEO.
McKay will join the SEC in May from European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) in Switzerland, where he currently serves as executive chair. His previous experience also includes stints as CEO at Celtic Football Club and chief operating officer and executive director of Scottish Rugby Union.
McKay’s appointment comes as the SEC enters its 40th year and “accelerates an ambitious growth plan to maximise its current venues”, with the 14,200-cap Hydro due to welcome acts such as Sabrina Carpenter, Iron Maiden, Kylie and Billie Eilish this year.
“We are thrilled to welcome Dominic as CEO,” says SEC chair Morag McNeill. “He joins at a very exciting time for the SEC as we develop our strategy for the campus over the next decade. Dominic brings an incredible breadth of strategic, commercial, entertainment and operational experience from his previous roles on the national and international stage. He is a strategic leader and has a proven track record of delivering growth with a real focus on customer experience and partnership working.
“The success of the SEC is hugely important to Glasgow and Scotland and Dominic has strong relationships with many of the SEC’s key stakeholders and partners, including our major shareholder Glasgow City Council and our wider stakeholder family. The whole Board looks forward to working with Dominic as we continue our ambitious plans for the business.”
The 3,000-cap SEC Armadillo has forthcoming concerts with the likes of Craig David, David Gray, Gabrielle, Joe Bonamassa, Roger Daltrey and Gregory Porter.
“I am delighted to be joining the SEC as chief executive officer at such an exciting time”
McKay adds: “I am delighted to be joining the SEC as chief executive officer at such an exciting time as the Board looks to the future to develop the SEC and its iconic venues.
“I have been impressed by the ambition and determination of the Board to build on the SEC’s outstanding pedigree as a truly world class entertainment and events destination with its incredible venues; OVO Hydro, SEC Armadillo and SEC Centre.
“I look forward to working with the Board and leading the team to establish a new strategy that will include exciting new development plans for the campus while ensuring the SEC and its venues continue to be a thriving destination for the world’s greatest musicians, performers and international and national events.”
Plus, Live Nation’s Neste Live! has elevated VP of fairs & festivals Andrew Fortin to president, with founder Gil Cunningham transitioning to the role of chair. The US-based subsidiary specialises in talent buying for festivals and fairs, offering services such as talent booking, festival and fair consulting and production, management and marketing consulting.
Following his promotion, Fortin will now oversee all aspects of Neste Live!’s operations, including strategic planning and execution, talent buying and event production, and festival and fair production and management, as well as growth initiatives for the business.
Meanwhile, as chair, Cunningham will serve as a advisor to Fortin, providing guidance on strategic planning and supporting the development and management of relationships with clients, agents, managers and other key partners.
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