With more than 50 years of experience in events and venue management, Lister started a concert and event management business in 1975 and began managing venues in 1986 with the opening of Brisbane Entertainment Centre. This venture in time grew through a series of mergers to include a variety of venues including convention centres in Cairns, Darwin, Brisbane and Sydney in Australia and several in Asia and the Middle East, alongside stadiums and arenas in Australia and internationally. Through several developments, these venues became part of Legends Global, with Lister leading the Asia Pacific and Middle East regions of the business as chief executive and president.
“We have been involved in presenting more than 40,000 major events across sport, the arts, convention[s] and exhibitions, including Olympic and Paralympic Games, G20 meetings, World Cups and tens of thousands of music concerts, conferences and major events,” said Lister.
“To now being part of the Legends Global network, with over 450 venues globally is an ideal time to retire.
“Our wonderful people across APAC and the Middle East are one of the reasons I’ve stayed in this industry for so long. I am extremely proud of those who I have had the pleasure to grow and mentor and provide some with lifelong careers.
“The APAC region is performing strongly, delivering some of our best financial and operational results we’ve ever achieved, which reflects what we are seeing right across the Legends Global group,” said Lister of the timing of his retirement.
“It’s a good time to transition out of the business when it is at the absolute top, with a strong pipeline of projects into the future.”
The timing of his retirement also involves Lister’s personal life, as he looks to spend time with his wife, who has Parkinson’s Disease.
Lister’s retirement announcement this week has prompted colleagues to praise his impact and vision over his considerable career.
“Harvey is a ‘once in a generation’ visionary, and I was lucky enough to meet him in the early days of commercial radio in Brisbane in the early 1970s,” said his business partner, Rod Pilbeam.
“We shared a joint love of live entertainment and since then an amazing career, business, and lifelong friendship.”
Meanwhile Legends Global CEO, Dan Levy, thanked Lister for his “outstanding leadership and contribution” to the worldwide events industry.
“As many can attest, Harvey is never short on stories and he is held in the highest regard around the world in the live entertainment industry,” said Levy.
Through hard work, commercial acumen and sheer determination, he has created countless opportunities for artists, promoters, major government and venue owners, and business partners throughout his incredible 50-year journey.”
“One of Harvey’s greatest legacies is a strong team of capable leaders and the successful business he has built across APAC and MENA.”
Lister will remain a senior advisor to Legends Global for the next year with the company’s longstanding chief operating officer for Asia Pacific, the Middle East and North Africa, Peter Loxton, stepping up to run the two regions from tomorrow, July 1.
