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Music Venue Trust Expands Senior Leadership Team
Music Venue Trust (MVT) has expanded its senior management team as the UK charity prepares for its next phase of development.
The organisation said the changes complete a multi-year programme designed to strengthen its management structure, succession planning and long-term sustainability. MVT’s activities have expanded in recent years across advocacy, funding, investment, policy, partnerships and services for grassroots music venues.
Joining founder and CEO Mark Davyd and chief operating officer Beverley Whitrick on the senior management team are Toni Coe-Brooker, campaigns and communications manager; Sophie Asquith, venue support manager; Chris Hurne, head of external affairs; Denzil Thomas, partnerships manager; Rebecca Walker, live projects manager; and Adrian Norman, financial controller.
Coe-Brooker and Walker have been promoted into departmental leadership positions after joining MVT in 2020 and 2021 respectively. Hurne and Norman joined the charity earlier in 2026 to strengthen its external affairs and financial operations.
The appointments form part of a wider organisational development programme that has created a 21-person team operating across four departments. The structure includes dedicated roles covering venue support, fundraising, partnerships, campaigns, communications, live projects and finance.
MVT said the expanded team would increase its capacity to support venue members, lead national campaigns, influence government policy and develop new initiatives for the grassroots music sector.
The leadership changes follow a year in which MVT launched its Investment Projects programme, staged the nationwide Everywhere At Once festival and contributed to efforts to secure recognition for grassroots music venues through the UK Government’s Music Plan and Music Growth Package.
The charity also campaigned for an additional 20% reduction in business rates for grassroots music venues.
MVT board co-chairs Chris Prosser and Jane Beese said the new structure would provide the charity with stronger governance, resilience and succession planning.
Mark Davyd, Founder & CEO of Music Venue Trust, said, "Music Venue Trust has never been about one individual. Everything we`ve achieved over the past 12 years has come from building an exceptional team with the expertise and commitment to fight for grassroots music venues every day. I am incredibly proud to see colleagues like Toni and Rebecca step into senior leadership roles, alongside Chris and Adrian bringing new expertise into the organisation. Together, this leadership team ensures we`re stronger, more resilient and better equipped than ever to support the UK`s grassroots music venue community for many years to come.”
(left to right) Chris Hurne, Toni Coe-Brooker, Denzil Thomas, Beverley Whitrick, Rebecca Walker, Sophie Asquith, Adrian Norman & Mark Davyd (photo credit: Katie Frost)