OVG Names Chris Granger Chief Executive Officer

Oak View Group has officially named Chris Granger as its new chief executive officer, removing the interim tag he has held since July. The appointment is effective immediately, the company announced Tuesday.

Granger steps into the top role at a pivotal time for OVG, which has rapidly expanded its footprint in venue development, management, hospitality, and sponsorship sales across the global live entertainment industry. Before serving as interim CEO, Granger led OVG360, overseeing significant growth across the company’s venue management and services portfolio.

“Chris’s performance during his tenure as Interim CEO has been exceptional,” said Lee Wittlinger, chairman of OVG’s board of directors. “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.”

OVG senior partner Irving Azoff also endorsed the decision, saying, “I have known and worked with Chris for nearly 20 years. No one is better for the CEO job. He 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.”

Granger said he plans to continue the company’s emphasis on innovation and community impact as it scales its global operations.

“I’m honored to serve in this role and build upon an incredible foundation,” Granger 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 three decades of experience in sports and live entertainment. Prior to joining OVG in 2021, he served as group president of sports and entertainment for the Detroit Tigers and Detroit Red Wings, and as president and COO of the Sacramento Kings. Earlier in his career, he spent 14 years with the NBA in senior leadership roles, including executive vice president of team marketing and business operations.

He began his professional career at Walt Disney World and holds a bachelor’s degree from Cornell University and an MBA from Yale School of Management.