Entertainment, ticketing and theatre production company ATG Entertainment (“ATG”), has announced the appointment of Melanie Smith, CBE (pictured) as its chief executive officer, effective 11 February 2026. She succeeds Ted Stimpson who, over the past three years, has worked closely with the ATG management team during a period of significant development for the group, including international expansion and portfolio growth.
Smith brings over two decades of experience in executive and operational leadership across large-scale, consumer and live events organisations, most recently as CEO of the Birmingham, UK-based NEC Group. She is also deputy chair at Sadler’s Wells, a world-leading dance organisation.
Prior to her role at the NEC Group, Mel served as CEO of Ocado Retail, where she was instrumental in the creation of Ocado Retail’s joint venture with Marks & Spencer. Smith has also held senior leadership roles at Marks & Spencer, Bupa, TalkTalk and was a Partner at McKinsey & Co.
Welcoming Smith’s appointment, Andrew Tisdale, ATG Board member and vice-chairman at Providence Equity Partners, said: “Mel is an exceptional leader with a proven track record of running complex, global businesses across both the live entertainment and consumer sectors. Her combination of operational rigour, strategic insight and genuine passion for theatre and live events makes her exceptionally well placed to lead ATG as the business enters its next phase of growth.
“I would also like to thank Ted for his leadership and contribution to ATG. His commitment to the creative community and to strengthening ATG’s position as a global live entertainment platform has been instrumental, and on behalf of everyone at Providence and ATG, we thank him sincerely and wish him every success in the future.”
Smith added: “ATG Entertainment is an extraordinary business, synonymous with some of the world’s leading productions and the iconic venues that host them. With a diverse portfolio of venues, productions and live entertainment experiences across the UK, Europe and North America, ATG is positioned to capture the continued global demand for live entertainment.”
ATG Entertainment is a global player in live entertainment and has a portfolio of venues, including historic theatres, studio theatres, cinemas, conference spaces, and modern live music arenas. ATG Entertainment owns, operate or programme 71 venues across the UK, the US, Spain, and Germany.
ATG also presents over 15,000 live performances annually, including Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club, Stranger Things: The First Shadow, Moulin Rouge, The Lion King, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and Starlight Express, as well as popular music and comedy shows.
ATG owns a leading ticketing platform processing more than 18 million tickets each year for a variety of live events. The company has offices in London, Woking, New York and Cologne.
Source: www.exhibitionworld.co.uk
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