TEG Europe Recruits Alex Simmonds to Lead U.K. Touring

As it expands its U.K. activities, TEG Europe taps veteran promoter Alex Simmonds as head of U.K. touring and special projects.

At the live entertainment and tech giant, he’ll lead the U.K. events promoting team as it looks to grow its presence in the market and across all formats of entertainment, reads a statement welcoming the new arrival.

Simmonds Joins TEG Europe following eight years at SJM Concerts, where he booked the C2C Country Music Festival, which next year celebrates its 10 anniversary with events in London, Glasgow and Dublin.

Also, he worked on live shows for such blue-chip brands as Disney, BBC, Sony and Amazon and was lead live programmer of the podcast show “London.”

Simmons has an eclectic taste in promoting, from podcasts to comedy and music, notes TEG Europe managing director Toby Leighton-Pope, who is keen to see the new recruit “bring this flair” to the business. 

“We are very excited to have Alex join the team,” enthuses Leighton-Pope. “I’ve been a big fan of his for a long time and having worked with him booking C2C Festival I know he is going to make a huge contribution to TEG Europe.”

Adds Simmonds, “I’m thrilled to be joining TEG Europe, Toby and I have been friends for a while and I’m looking forward to working with him and the whole team at TEG.”

The new addition to TEG’s recently-formed European division closely follows the appointment of Leighton-Pope to oversee the operation, its strategic direction and guide the “rapid expansion” of TEG’s U.K.-based activities, which span live entertainment, ticketing, venue, digital and data.

Based in Bristol and London, TEG Europe gathers Ticketek, TEG Live Europe (which includes the former TEG MJR touring business); TEG Venues (which includes interests in 10 venues); the Propaganda indie club night; and Ovation, TEG’s data science and analytics business.

The new structure, TEG CEO Geoff Jones said in late July, “represents a crucial milestone in the expansion of TEG’s successful integrated live entertainment model into the vibrant U.K. market and positions us for further growth across Europe.”

The seeds for TEG Europe were planted well-prior to the pandemic.

The live entertainment and tech giant got a foothold in 2019, with the acquisition of U.K.-based MJR Group, which had produced shows for Sia, 50 Cent, and Hans Zimmer, and operated and promoted tours across Dubai, South Africa, Japan and China.

Ticketek rolled out into the U.K. in 2020.

Based in Sydney, TEG’s interests also include TEG Live, Qudos Bank Arena, SXSW Sydney, TEG Van Egmond, Laneway Festival, Handsome Tours, Eventopia, and TEG Dainty, Paul Dainty’s concert and events promotion company which it acquired in 2016.