DUBAI (VIP NEWS) — Thomas Ovesen has today been announced as CEO of the newly created company 117 Live, part of the Al Ahli Holding Group.
A Dubai-based conglomerate with a large media and entertainment portfolio, Al Ahli Holding Group (AAHG) is led by group CEO Mohammed Khammas. The appointment of Ovesen to run 117 Live is the next stage of the group’s growing media and entertainment arm.
Based in Dubai, Ovesen will take on the post effective immediately. He will direct all global activity for the division with a focus on live events, from music through to comedy. He will also head up plans to expand 117 Live’s interests into local and international talent management, venue management and programming.
Creating spaces to host events will be a key part of the 117 Live strategy. This will begin with the immediate launch of a temporary 20,000 capacity greenfield site. 2017 will see the launch of a new state of the art 25,000 capacity open air Amphitheatre in Dubai, wholly owned by AAHG. The venue, featuring pavilion hosted boxes, suites and terraces will be the only one of its kind in the Middle East. Construction will begin in early 2016, dramatically increasing the number of events able to be staged in the region.
Ovesen commented: “With all of the exciting developments and acquisitions AAHG have made recently this is a fantastic time to be joining them. I will be working on a joined up global strategy, ensuring we use all of our various assets to the very best effect. 117 Live will be a driving force in entertainment and we’ll look beyond the Middle East and into the Far East, Asia and US. With the imminent arrival of the new amphitheatre this is a pivotal moment for our company and I’m proud that 117 Live will be leading the charge.”
