Rebecca Kane Burton has seen the chaos of events. After a disastrous opening at the Co-op Live arena (involving falling air conditioning units), she was helicoptered in to take over from the venue’s former CEO Gary Roden. Now Burton is set to take on the role of venue management EVP at Oak View Group (OVG).

Kane Burton said that she had originally been due to start the UK and European management role at OVG on 1 July but the drama surrounding Co-op Live’s opening had delayed it.

As OVG’s EVP of venue management, she is tasked with spearheading the UK and European business development strategy, and is responsible for identifying new business opportunities in arenas, stadiums and convention centres across Europe. She reports jointly to OVG International president Jessica Koravos and OVG360 president Chris Granger. OVG said Burton will focus on growing its venue services business, which includes Wembley Stadium, St. Andrew’s at Knighthead Park (Birmingham FC), Scotland’s Murrayfield Stadium, and Co-op Live.

The chaotic opening happened in April of this year, after a test event was slapped with reduced capacity and an official launch event featuring Peter Kay was postponed. Kane Burton, The O2 arena’s former VP & GM, stepped in as interim GM at Co-op Live arena after that week. OVG said the venue’s opening season involved 36 events, with more than 900,000 tickets sold.

Burton’s other previous experience includes roles as CEO of Sodexo Live! and CEO of LW Theatres. Speaking about her new position at OVG, she said: “This is a pivotal time to be joining Oak View Group as it enters an exciting period of international growth. OVG has quickly become the global leader in venue management, and I am looking forward to broadening their impact on the fan experience with new partners in Europe.”

OVG international president Jessica Koravos said Burton was instrumental in the success of Co-op Live’s opening season: “All of us at OVG would like to thank her for her leadership in guiding Co-op Live through its launch period to its emergence as a world class venue. We are delighted to now have her join the team at OVG international, as we look to make considerable strides in new markets.”