vstar entertainment group names eric grilly as new chief executive officer
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Melissa Gutschmidt216-472-2394
VSTAR ENTERTAINMENT GROUP NAMES ERIC GRILLY AS NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICERGrilly to expand portfolio of live entertainment tours and service offerings in new role
MINNEAPOLIS (April 5, 2016) – VStar Entertainment Group, one of the nation’s leading multi-concept media and entertainment platforms and producer of family-friendly consumer shows and events, announces Eric Grilly as chief executive officer (CEO). Under the direction of Grilly, VStar Entertainment Group will own, operate and promote multiple North American tours scheduled to visit more than 150 cities, including “Sesame Street Live,” a Broadway-quality musical production, produced in cooperation with Sesame Workshop; and “Discover the Dinosaurs UNLEASHED,” a dinosaur-themed, family-oriented, educational and entertainment touring exhibit. Past touring shows also include “Care Bears Live”; Hasbro’s “MY LITTLE PONY LIVE!”; “Hello Kitty’s Supercute Friendship Festival”; “KIDZ BOP WORLD TOUR”; and “Curious George Live!”
Prior to joining VStar Entertainment Group, Grilly served as president of Alli Sports, a division of the NBC Sports Group. There he managed a business portfolio that included the Dew Tour, the Red Bull Signature Series, Spartan Race, the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship and the World of Adventure Sports. The portfolio represented the premier events in action and adventure sports encompassing 35 events, one million spectators, more than 200 hours of live, taped and streamed content, 50 million domestic viewers and distributed to more than 100 countries around the world.
“Eric has a strong understanding of live event entertainment. His honed skills as an interactive and digital expert are complemented with extensive brand building and business development experience. We’re eager to welcome him to the team,” said David Benyaminy, chairman, VStar Entertainment Group and partner at AUA Private Equity Partners.
VStar Entertainment Group was founded in 2015, as a result of AUA Private Equity Partners’ acquisitions of Blue Star Media LLC and VEE Corporation.
“I’m honored for the opportunity to lead this organization of creative and talented professionals,” Grilly said. “VStar Entertainment Group produces some of the most well-known live shows in the industry, and I’m looking forward to adding new titles to that repertoire.”
In addition to overseeing live entertainment tours, Grilly will expand VStar Entertainment Group’s Production Services, which provides marketers with an in-house, integrated solution for 3D props, live events, exhibits, costumes and mascots.
Grilly joins VStar Entertainment Group through a nationwide executive search conducted by Turnkey Search.
For more information, please visit www.VStarEntertainment.com.
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ABOUT VSTAR ENTERTAINMENT GROUPVStar Entertainment Group is one of the nation’s leading multi-concept media and entertainment platforms and producer of family-friendly consumer shows and events, with an extensive background promoting more than 36,000 performances worldwide for more than 30 years. VStar Entertainment Group was founded in 2015 following an acquisition of VEE Corporation, one of the most experienced and respected names in family-friendly entertainment, and Blue Star Media, a leader in event production and promotion. VStar Entertainment Group also provides turn-key, in-house solutions for agencies, brands, corporations and marketing experts serving the event, sports and experiential industries. For more information, including current touring shows and a complete list of service offerings, please visit www.VStarEntertainment.com.
ABOUT AUA PRIVATE EQUITY PARTNERSAUA Private Equity Partners is a New York-based, operationally-focused, lower middle-market private equity firm making control and significant minority equity investments in companies in the consumer, media, and business services sectors with a particular focus on U.S. Hispanic-oriented companies and/or family owned businesses. AUA Private Equity Partners is a next generation investment manager successfully capturing the rising tide of the evolving U.S. Demographic landscape. For more information, please visit www.auaequity.com .