Oak View Group (OVG) has officially named Chris Granger as CEO, elevating the veteran sports and live-entertainment executive after five months in the interim CEO role. The appointment is effective immediately.
Granger replaces former CEO and company founder Tim Leiweke, who was indicted earlier this year on federal bid-rigging charges related to the construction of the Moody Center in Austin. Company officials at OVG agreed to sign a non-prosecution agreement as part of the investigation into Leiweke, who has vowed to fight the charges in Texas federal court.
Granger’s promotion was announced Tuesday (Dec. 2) by OVG’s board of directors, with chairman Lee Wittlinger praising Granger’s steady hand during a transformative period for the company. “Chris’s performance during his tenure as Interim CEO has been exceptional,” Wittlinger said in a statement. “He seamlessly stepped into the role during a pivotal time and demonstrated tremendous leadership. Chris understands the entire ecosystem of sports and live entertainment and the Board is confident that he is the right executive to lead OVG into its next phase of global growth.”
Granger, who previously led OVG360, the company’s venue management and services division, has been key in opening up new business opportunities for OVG around arena development, large-scale hospitality expansion and growing the company’s international footprint.
OVG co-founder and senior partner Irving Azoff said “no one is better for the CEO job,” noting that Granger “is uniquely qualified to lead OVG as we continue to build it bigger and better. He shares our passion to deliver for all our clients, fans and artists.”
In a statement, Granger said he was honored to assume the role permanently. “I’d like to thank the Board for their confidence. I am honored to serve in this role and build upon an incredible foundation,” he said. “We will work tirelessly on behalf of our partners, we will root for one another, and we will lift the communities in which we operate. Let’s go.”
Granger brings more than 30 years of industry experience to the post. Before joining OVG in 2021, he served as group president of the Detroit Tigers and Detroit Red Wings and worked as an executive for the Sacramento Kings and the NBA in senior roles. At the latter, he served as executive vp of team marketing and business operations. He began his career at Walt Disney World and holds degrees from Cornell University and Yale University.
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