Music industry pioneer Gary Gersh is departing his role as president of AEG Presents' global touring division.
Former Nirvana and Foo Fighters manager Gersh has led the AEG Presents division since it was founded in 2018.
The 67-year-old is departing to “pursue new opportunities,” according to the business. Rich Schaefer, the long-time senior vice president of global touring, will be his replacement.
Gersh’s departure was announced by AEG Presents chief executive Jay Marciano in a memo to staff that has been widely reported.
“Gary played a vital role in the development and growth of Global Touring; his energy, passion and initiative helped nurture an embryonic idea into a powerhouse team that has made a substantial impact on both our business specifically and the industry as a whole,” Marciano wrote.
Gersh, also in a memo to colleagues, wrote: “I have made the very difficult choice to step away from my position here at AEG Presents. This was not a decision I came to lightly, as working alongside everyone at this company these past eight years has been a career highlight for me, but I’m excited about the prospects ahead and look forward to us crossing paths again in the future …”
Worldwide touring operations
During a career that spans four decades, Gersh signed Nirvana and Sonic Youth to David Geffen’s DGC label. He later headed Capital Records as well as management firm The Artist Organization.
Gersh joined AEG Presents in 2015 as president of global talent, and three years later was announced as the leader of the new global touring division. The division was created to oversee all aspects of AEG Presents’ worldwide touring operations and talent relations.
Gersh is seen to have played a crucial role in expanding AEG Presents’ global touring footprint, which most recently included tours by Ed Sheeran, Elton John and Billie Eilish. He has also had a role in building international tours for non-English language stars as Rammstein and Blackpink.
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