Geoff Lester Joins Vivid Seats as Chief Commercial Officer
Experienced sports, entertainment, and ticketing industry executive with expertise in e-commerce, business development and partnership activation
Company deepening executive leadership with industry and functional leaders for continued growth
CHICAGO, January 8, 2018 – Vivid Seats, the largest independent online ticket marketplace, today announced that Geoff Lester has been appointed Chief Commercial Officer, effective immediately. Lester will draw from his deep industry expertise and relationships to lead partnerships, business development, and growth opportunities for the Company.
“The addition of Geoff to our talented team is a testament to our mission to lead the industry in providing fans a safe, affordable, and superior ticket purchasing experience every day," said Eric Vassilatos, co-founder of Vivid Seats. "We are excited for Geoff to take the lead in extending and enhancing our value proposition as the industry's premier ticketing partner across all stakeholders, from teams and leagues, to artists, venues, media properties, and more. Geoff is known industry-wide for his integrity and authenticity, and his track record in business development and partnership cultivation speaks for itself."
Lester has nearly 20 years of experience across e-commerce, business development, and partnership activation, particularly in sports and entertainment. For much of the last eight years, Lester served in StubHub’s Partnerships and Business Development function, most recently leading the function. There he was responsible for the development, execution, and management of all business development and partnership opportunities, bringing in, renewing, and managing more than 150 sports, music, theater, venue, and ticketing partnerships, as well as new business opportunities and strategic partnerships with brands, publishers, and technology companies.
Lester said, “The talented team at Vivid Seats has done an exceptional job during the past two decades driving innovation with its powerful technology and using its agility and commitment to deliver value to both fans and industry partners alike. I am honored to join them to work together to continue building on Vivid Seats' upward trajectory and help strengthen its leading position. The opportunity to deliver value to more industry stakeholders, and ultimately their fans, is incredibly exciting, as is helping to grow the Vivid Seats brand through strategic partnerships and expansive new business ventures."
Prior to this role, Lester was Senior Vice President, Global Solutions at Fox Networks Group, helping lead partnerships across the 21st Century Fox portfolio. In addition to his time at StubHub, Lester previously held various roles at NASCAR across broadcasting, digital media, e-commerce, and marketing, including management of NASCAR's broadcast rights and digital media business.
Lester will be based in Los Angeles and will report directly to Vassilatos.
In recent years, Vivid Seats has successfully partnered with leading sports properties, including media heavyweights like Sports Illustrated, Fox Sports, and ESPN; professional sports teams like the Los Angeles Rams, Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, and Cleveland Browns; and collegiate athletic programs and properties like Notre Dame, the Big Ten Conference, Duke, the University of Tennessee, and many others.
About Vivid Seats
Vivid Seats is the largest independent secondary marketplace for tickets to live sports, concert and theater events, and the industry's leading provider of technology platforms and service solutions. Founded in 2001, the Chicago-based company offers industry-leading affordability across one of the widest selections of premium tickets and event packages. Vivid Seats supports all confirmed orders with a 100% Buyer Guarantee and a dedicated customer service team to ensure the safest and most convenient purchase experience. Vivid Seats has been selected by leaders in the live event industry, such as ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Notre Dame, Chicago Bears and the Duke Blue Devils, to be their official and preferred partner to deliver the best possible experience for their fans and event goers. Fans who want to sit closer and see more of their favorite live events can order directly on vividseats.com or by phone at 866-848-8499.
Media Contact:
Bryson Meunier, Vivid Seats -- (312) 291-9966 ext. 141