ASM Global Director Tim Worton calls Time on Live Entertainment

Veteran venues executive Tim Wharton is leaving the live entertainment industry for a new career.
Worton will be leaving ASM Global at the end of the year, when he will begin 12 months of full-time study at Moore Theological College in Sydney. When completed, Worton wishes to work in a pastoral, priest or ministry role.

Sydney-based Worton has logged 33 years in the entertainment industry, including 25 years with ASM Global (formerly AEG Ogden). For the past 19 years, he has served as the group arena manager of event management specialists for APAC.

“Tim has been a great ambassador for our organization. He has made an admirable life-changing decision to follow his faith and we applaud his decision and wish him well,” comments the ASM Global (APAC) president and CEO. Harvey Lister.

“Tim's leadership and executive management of the arena portfolio is demonstrated by the continued growth of the Group's arenas through innovation and the continued development of entertainment content for audiences.”

Worton's career announcement was made during the 31st Asia Pacific Industry Conference held at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Center (BCEC) According to organizers, this year's edition welcomes 554 registered participants, a new record, for a program run in 23 sessions and with 79 speakers.

During the VMA Awards on Tuesday, in celebration of the event's finale, Worton received the trade body's 12th honorary lifetime membership. Worton joined the VMA as a member in 1994, a year after the association was founded, and served on the board from 1997-2003, and was president of the association during that period from January 2001 to May 2003. 2022, the VMA board created a category in his honor, the Tim Worton Award for Excellence in Education, and became its first recipient.

Reflecting on his career, Worton says: “Ensuring that there is plenty of live content and that the company's arena network is operationally and financially successful is a key part of my role. What I have enjoyed most about my career is supporting and mentoring colleagues, helping to create opportunities for future development.”

The 2024 Conference marked Worton's 30th consecutive and final attendance.