LOS ANGELES (CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — AEG has changed things up in its top-level organization by expanding current EVP/CFO Dan Beckerman's reponsibilities to include that of Chief Operating Officer, while current Executive Vice President and General Counsel Ted Fikre has been promoted to Chief Legal & Development Officer.
Since joining AEG in 1997, both Beckerman and Fikre, who serve on the organization's executive committee, have played critical roles in the analysis and recommendations for every new investment contemplated and ultimately entered into by AEG. In addition to spearheading the raising and investing of nearly $4 billion into company initiated endeavors, Beckerman has also been instrumental in the creation of a $315 million asset-backed private placement that led to the development of STAPLES Center, which remains the largest-ever funding of its kind for an arena. This groundbreaking financing platform that he developed and carried out has continued to be a model that near every new arena project team consults as the industry standard.
Along with Beckerman, Fikre is responsible for overseeing all acquisitions as well as the organizational and growth plans for over 50 subsidiary divisions of AEG. Having also joined AEG in 1997, Fikre has taken the lead in negotiating many of the key transactions, including land acquisition and entitlement, team leases, financing, naming rights, sponsorships, concessions, and other key vendor agreements entered into by the organization and its affiliates including venues, sports franchises, live entertainment properties and major events. Additionally, Fikre often leads the company's efforts to work with government agencies and political figures to craft successful public-private partnerships, to win political support and the necessary entitlements and approvals for AEG's development projects, and to advance the company's interests through legislative initiatives.
AEG has also added new business group to be known as AEG Global Partnerships that will focus on sponsorship and naming rights deals, maintaining existing partnerships with AEG facilities, live events, franchises and music properties and new business development. The new group will be headed up by Todd Goldstein, formerly a Sr. Vice President who has been bumped up to President. Todd will be assisted by Shervin Mirhashemi, who has been promoted to Chief Operating Officer for the new group.
"Sponsorship and naming rights agreements are critical components of the overall revenue of our company," said Leiweke. "Our continued and focused priority for these partnerships indicates the priority we place on or sponsors, their satisfaction and happiness with AEG. The mark of a great company is one that is in the renewal business, not the sales business," he added. – CelebrityAccess Staff Writers
