Mark Dodds to Lead TEG Live as Tim McGregor Exits Amid Major Restructure
TEG has announced another major shake-up of its leadership team, just weeks after the company dismantled its country music division.
TEG has announced another major shake-up of its leadership team, with Mark Dodds taking the reins at TEG Live and longtime executive Tim McGregor departing after 20 years, just weeks after the company dismantled its country music division.
The restructure, announced on Thursday, sees Dodds step into the role of Managing Director of TEG Live and Handsome Tours, while Paul Dainty will take on the newly created position of President of Touring and Theatrical.
The appointments form part of a broader strategic reset under new TEG Chief Executive Cameron Hoy, with the Australian-headquartered entertainment group sharpening its focus on touring across the Asia-Pacific region and investing in its ticketing and venue technology.
Dodds, who has spent more than 12 years as a managing partner at Handsome Tours, will assume responsibility for TEG Live while continuing to lead Handsome Tours. During his time with the latter, he has helped develop the Australian touring presence of international acts including Olivia Dean, Fred again.., Fontaines D.C., Phoebe Bridgers, and Beabadoobee.
His expanded remit will include overseeing TEG Live's upcoming touring schedule, which features System of a Down, Icehouse, and Niall Horan.
He succeeds McGregor, who is departing TEG after 20 years, most recently serving as Global Head of Touring at TEG Live. McGregor will hand over leadership of the division to Dodds over the coming weeks.
“I want to thank Tim for his enormous contribution over his 20-year journey with us. Having worked alongside him for the past 10 years, I have immense appreciation and respect for him and all he has achieved. He leaves a lasting legacy having developed a promoter division with capabilities unmatched across the region, and we wish him all the best in his next chapter,” Hoy said.
Reporting from inside the Australian music business since '94.
“The new structure announced today with Paul, Mark, Danny and Jerome builds on that proven track record. By uniting their expertise and having Mark step up to lead TEG Live alongside Handsome, we are raising the bar for live entertainment across the region.”
Meanwhile, Dainty's new position will see him take on a broader leadership role across TEG's touring and theatrical operations while retaining his existing responsibilities as CEO of TEG Dainty. With more than five decades in the industry, he has promoted major Australian tours for artists including Eminem, Katy Perry, Hugh Jackman, Phil Collins, Queen, Bon Jovi, and The Rolling Stones.
Laneway Festival founders Danny Rogers and Jerome Borazio will also remain part of TEG's promoter leadership team, continuing their involvement with Laneway Festival and Laneway Presents.
The changes come amid a period of restructure at TEG, with cost-cutting measures in place following the loss of several major ticketing contracts. In August, it dismantled its dedicated country music team, just six months after announcing plans to expand its presence in the genre.
The departures included Nashville-based Brad Turcotte, who was TEG Live's Senior Vice President of Country, as well as Head of Country Music Touring, Alex Kelsey. Former Sony Music Australia CEO Vanessa Picken, who joined TEG on a six-month contract as Global Director of Music Strategy, also left the business, while longtime Laneway Festival executive Jessie Parker announced her departure after 16 years with the festival.
Just three days after the country music restructure was reported, TEG cancelled its inaugural LONGHAUL Festival, which had been scheduled to take place across Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane in January 2027 - clashing with the final days of Tamworth Country Music Festival - with Kane Brown and Kacey Musgraves as headliners.
At the time, TEG said it was "not the right time" to launch a new country music festival in Australia, but maintained that it would continue bringing international country music tours to the market.
Beyond its promoter operations, TEG has appointed John Ranieri as Chief Information Officer, overseeing technology development across the group.
Ranieri brings more than 20 years of experience in digital transformation and technology leadership, having previously held senior roles at Commonwealth Bank of Australia, TAL Dai Ichi Life, and TOWER Group NZ. He most recently served as Head of Transformation and Chief Technology Officer for General Insurance at Commonwealth Bank.
His appointment will support TEG's continued investment in ticketing and venue technology, including digital ticketing, resale platforms, accessible ticketing, facial recognition entry systems, and in-app seat upgrades.
“TEG has a long and proud history of delivering market-firsts that transform the live experience. Whether it was pioneering digital ticketing, building the first fair and ethical resale marketplace, or advancing accessible ticketing, we have always led from the front,” Hoy said.
“John’s appointment ensures we maintain that relentless pace of innovation, deploying cutting-edge technology that elevates the experience for our partners, venues, and millions of fans across the region.”
From Variety Australia
