You wait all summer for a new GM at a Manchester Arena and two come along at once. Not to be outdone by Guy Dunstan’s appointment at the Co-op Live, Gemma Vaughan has been promoted to acting general manager of AO Arena, in Manchester.
Vaughan joined AO arena operator ASM Global in 2023 as sales and marketing director at the AO.
From Live Nation Entertainment and Cuffe & Taylor, to Escape to Freight Island and now AO Arena, she has 14 years’ experience within the live entertainment industry. Throughout her career, she has supported legends such as Faithless, Cliff Richard, Mariah Carey, Britney Spears and many more.
Bringing with her a deep understanding of the industry, Vaughan has spent time working successfully as a promoter, marketer and now acting venue manager. Since joining ASM Global she has been integral to the successful re-imagining of the AO Arena with the launch of The Mezz, the UK’s first celebrity chef restaurant and bar experience inside a live music venue, solidifying the AO Arena as the beating heart of the city’s music scene.
Demonstrating further commitment to the city’s experience economy, she sits on the board of Brighter Sound and the Manchester Music City network.
Hailing from Manchester herself, Vaughan now takes the helm of the city’s much-loved and longest-standing live entertainment venue which she grew up with, as it looks ahead to an exciting future
Chris Bray, president of ASM Global Europe said: “The AO Arena is embarking on another year of unprecedented demand. Gemma has a wealth of understanding of the wider UK music business and the needs of the local Manchester market. Through her work at the forefront of the recent £60m reimagination of the Arena she has demonstrated her passion for this brilliant city, its cultural footprint and our ambition to deliver the ultimate in live entertainment experiences to the people who live here. It’s a very exciting time for the venue and for the city.”
Vaughan commences her new role with immediate effect. Since 2022 the venue has been managed by Jen Mitchell, who is now moving on to an exciting new challenge outside of ASM Global.
In 2024, AO Arena has once again cemented its position as the city of Manchester’s arena, celebrating its best year yet as well as raising tens of thousands of pounds and giving hundreds of hours to local community projects. September saw the venue complete its second Davis Cup residency with record breaking attendances. There’s plenty more to come, including Peter Kay Live, Chris Stapleton, Becky Hill, Les Misérables and many more and 2025 is set to be another fabulous for Manchester’s AO Arena.
