The MRG Group is setting up shop in Australia, launching a new Sydney office under the leadership of veteran live entertainment executive Graham Kennedy.
Kennedy joins the Canadian independent promoter as General Manager & Senior Promoter of MRG Live Australia, where he will oversee the company’s expansion across music, comedy, family entertainment and other touring productions.
The remit will also extend beyond touring, with Kennedy expected to develop opportunities across MRG’s broader operations, including ticketing, travel and strategic partnerships.
Kennedy brings more than 20 years of live entertainment experience to the role, most recently spending more than a decade as Head of Arts & Entertainment at Live Nation Australia. Before joining Live Nation, he was Senior Manager, Global Live Events for The Wiggles, overseeing the children’s group’s international touring operations.
The appointment follows MRG’s recent activity in Australia and New Zealand, including “The Next Step”, which sold more than 45,000 tickets across its tour. The company has also promoted tours in the region for Tyler Hilton and Kate Voegele, MKTO, and “HYPROV” stars Colin Mochrie and Asad Mecci.
“Australia is a market we’ve watched closely for years, and MRG’s success there… showed us the appetite was real,” said MRG Group founder and president Matthew Gibbons.
“The Australian and Canadian entertainment landscapes mirror each other in a lot of ways: mid-sized markets with passionate audiences and a strong culture of touring. That familiarity gives us a real advantage, and bringing on someone with Graham’s track record is exactly how we want to grow: methodically, with the right people, in the right markets.”
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Kennedy said the opportunity comes at an important time in MRG’s expansion.
“MRG has built an outstanding reputation for innovation, entrepreneurial thinking, and delivering exceptional live experiences,” he said. “I’m looking forward to establishing our Australian presence, building new relationships, and bringing more world-class tours and entertainment to audiences across the region.”
Kennedy already has ties to the company, having worked with MRG chief operating officer Stephane Lecuyer for more than a decade, and collaborated with MRG on The Next Step’s Australian dates.
Kennedy is currently undertaking a two-week onboarding program across MRG’s Canadian operations in Vancouver, Montreal and Toronto before returning to Sydney.