Online ticket marketplace Vivid Seats added a new executive, who formerly worked at one of the company’s largest competitors, StubHub.
The Chicago-based company announced Monday that it has hired Geoff Lester to be its chief commercial officer. He will be based out of the company’s Los Angeles office, and work on partnership establishment, business development and growth opportunities.
Prior to joining Vivid Seats, Lester was the senior vice president of global solutions at the Fox Networks Group, a role he began just in September, according to his LinkedIn profile. Prior to that, he worked in StubHub’s partnerships and business development division since 2010.
"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,” Lester said in a statement. “I am honored to join them to work together to continue building on Vivid Seats' upward trajectory and help strengthen its leading position.”
Vivid Seats, founded in 2001 by Eric Vassilatos and Jerry Bednyak, sells tickets for a variety of events, including sports games, concerts and theatre productions.
"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," Vassilatos said in a statement. "Geoff is known industry-wide for his integrity and authenticity, and his track record in business development and partnership cultivation speaks for itself."
