Emma Bownes promoted to SVP of Venue Programming at AEG Europe

AEG has promoted Emma Bownes to senior vice president of venue programming for its European venues, including The O2 in London, Hamburg’s Barclays Arena, and Berlin’s Uber Arena and Uber Eats Music Hall. In her expanded role, Bownes will oversee programming strategy and implementation across the arena portfolio. She joined AEG in 2010 as programming manager at The O2 and has held various roles since. Bownes is also a board member for the Music Venues Trust and was named an ambassador for the Young Voices Foundation in 2024. John Langford, AEG Europe COO, praised Bownes, stating, “At AEG, our vision is to be the best-in-class live entertainment business and Emma’s work is fundamental to this. Under her direction, we’ve been able to deliver a record-breaking number of shows and ticket sales for multiple years now. Her elevation within the business is reflective of these achievements and the focus we have on continued future growth. Emma’s passion, knowledge, and pursuit of excellence is incredibly inspiring to all those who work with her.” Bownes expressed gratitude for the promotion, saying, “I am incredibly grateful that I get to do what I love every day and do so for some of the world’s most iconic venues, alongside the very best. I’m excited by the road ahead and thankful to be part of a fantastic and talented team.” AEG also announced promotions within its programming team: Jo Peplow-Revell is now director of corporate & special events, and Marc Saunders has become head of programming at The O2. These changes follow a record-breaking year for AEG Europe, with The O2 reporting over 2.6 million ticket sales in 2024, a 3.5% increase from 2023, and an 11.5% YOY event growth in Germany.