Commenting on the appointment, managing director John Northcote said: "Steve has shown both the talent and application necessary to ensure that McKenzie Group's venue stock has a consistent reputation for all that's best in live music venues. His new role with be closely associated with our plans for the development of the Academy brand and after six years of working with Steve as a manager, I'm delighted he's accepted the challenge of becoming a full director of MKG."
MKG currently owns and operates Carling Academy venues in Brixton (London), Bristol, Birmingham, Glasgow, Liverpool, Islington (London); the Shepherd's Bush Empire (London), plus two Bar Academy sites in Birmingham and Islington (London).
MKG has also announced that Jon Dunn joins the group as the new booker for Carling Academy Islington. A reputable figure within the industry, Dunn left Northampton's Roadmender in 2002 to form his own company, Tonic Concerts. To date he has over 3,000 specialist events under his belt, with experience in a wide variety of music, theatre, spoken word and comedy events. Jon will work alongside group development manager Daryl Robinson, to bring new artists to MKG's regional venues.
(Sarah Rushton-Read)
