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Appointments round-up: West Ham, Project Admission and more

This week, former Seatwave executive Karim Virani started a new position as chief commercial officer at Premier League club West Ham United.

Virani previously served as digital and commercial director at the club. Before joining West Ham, he served as head of digital at NewDay and head of CRM and social marketing at Ticketmaster-owned Seatwave.

Nashville-based ticketing technology startup Project Admission has named Tom Giles as co-founder and chief executive, as well as appointing its board, which includes long-time Bon Jovi manager Paul Korzilius.

Giles, who most recently served at Fullscreen following its acquisition of StageBloc, will be responsible for strategy across product and the overall business.

The company also revealed its initial advisory board which includes Korzilius, SVP of the Arena Alliance run by Oak View Group, as well as Joe Kustelski, co-founder of Chalkline Sports and former Etix chief executive, and TicketManager co-founder and chief executive Tony Knopp, among others.

Elsewhere, Sally Bolton OBE has been appointed chief executive of the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC), which organises the Wimbledon grand slam.

Bolton previously worked as chief executive of Wigan Rugby League and Orrell Rugby Union before going on to deliver a range of major events at stadia such as Wembley, Old Trafford, Principality Stadium and Murrayfield. She also led the delivery of the 2013 Rugby League World Cup, following which she was awarded her OBE.

Townsend Music has appointed PledgeMusic’s former head of acquisitions, Ben James, as its new business manager.

Townsend, which provides online shopping platforms direct to fans, also operates in the live entertainment sector with pop-up shops and sells album pre-orders at live shows.

Oak View Group has named John Bolton as senior vice-president of entertainment and general manager of its new 10,000-seat arena at Agua Caliente in Palm Springs.

Bolton will report to Stephen Collins, chief operating officer at OVG. He will support all OVG venues and will assist in developing grand opening and entertainment plans for OVG’s eight new arena projects.