FACES & PLACES
Russell Gordon
Hollywood Park named Russell Gordon as vice president and general manager of YouTube Theater in Inglewood, California. Gordon reports to Otto Benedict, senior vice president of campus and facility operations at SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park. In his new position, Gordon will oversee the evaluation, execution and management of events at YouTube Theater. Before joining SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park, Gordon worked at VenuesNow parent company Oak View Group as vice president, venue operations and special projects.
Valerie Camillo
Valerie Camillo has been promoted to president and chief executive officer of Spectacor Sports and Entertainment, which includes the Philadelphia Flyers business operations, Wells Fargo Center, Spectacor Events and Entertainment, the Philadelphia Wings and the ECHL Maine Mariners. Camillo had previously served as president of Wells Fargo Center and president of business operations for the Flyers. She will continue to lead Flyers business operations and oversee the $350 million renovation of Wells Fargo Center.
Richard Weitz
Richard Weitz and Christian Muirhead are now co-chairmen of WME, succeeding Lloyd Braun, who will be stepping down at the end of the year. Weitz joined Endeavor (which later merged to become WME) in 1997 and was made partner and named head of the television packaging department in 2002. Muirhead joined William Morris 18 years ago, and has served as WME’s chief communications officer since 2014. With more than 25 years experience at WME, Weitz shares that “WME is home to me, and I’m thrilled to carry on its century-long history and help set the course for its next 100 years.” While serving as WME’s CCO, Muirhead has orchestrated the communications strategies for more than 30 acquisitions and new business launches.
David Kramer
United Talent Agency announced new senior leadership roles for longtime agents and board members David Kramer and Jay Sures. The promotions see Kramer named president while Sures will serve as vice chairman. The Sept. 13 announcement from UTA said that “the move elevates the two veteran company executives and allows each to play to their respective strengths as UTA continues to grow in size, scope and ambition.” Kramer and Sures had served as co-presidents since 2017. The duo both started their careers in mailrooms more than three decades ago and then worked with UTA co-founder Peter Benede. Kramer’s accomplishments include leading UTA’s acquisition of top UK agency, Curtis Brown Group, earlier this summer and working with UTA co-founder and CEO Jeremy Zimmer to bring in top global finance firm, EQT, as UTA’s largest outside investor.
Ash Christopher
Harris Blitzer Sports and Entertainment named Ashley “Ash” Christopher new general manager of White Eagle Hall theater in Jersey City, New Jersey. Christopher will be responsible for the day-to-day management and overall property operations for the 800-plus capacity music venue.Christopher joins White Eagle Hall after a year overseeing the guest experience and event operation departments at Central Park’s Wollman Rink NYC. Christopher previously was at Kings Theatre as the event and front of house manager.
Daniel Hoffend
ASM Global, which runs 98 international convention centers, has named Daniel Hoffend as executive vice president of convention centers. Hoffend was formerly with trade show event producer Freeman. ASM President and CEO Ron Bension said convention centers remain a key area of growth for the company, especially in Asia, Europe and Australia, and Hoffend is expected to expand opportunities across new and existing buildings.
Karen Dougherty Buchholz
The Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau announced Karen Dougherty Buchholz as the new chair of its board of directors. She serves as executive vice president of administration for Comcast Corporation, headquartered in Philadelphia. Buchholz succeeds longtime CVB chair Nicholas DeBenedictis, chairman emeritus of Aqua America. Buchholz is a graduate of Dickinson College and the Dickinson Center for European Studies in Bologna, Italy. She earned a master’s from the University of Pennsylvania.
