City Football Group COO departs to become Stage Entertainment CEO

Roel de Vries will step down as City Football Group’s chief operating officer to become chief executive of Stage Entertainment, in a move that lands just as Manchester City accelerates its entertainment-led development around the Etihad Stadium.Stage Entertainment said De Vries will succeed Arthur de Bok, who is stepping down after nine years and will remain as an adviser until the end of 2026.De Vries said: “I have been incredibly proud to work for organisations with strong brands and compelling customer propositions. Stage Entertainment shares these attributes and I am pleased to have the opportunity to build on Stage’s excellence by delivering exceptional live experiences for our audiences, and creative and commercial excellence for our partners.”De Vries joined CFG from Nissan, where he spent more than 25 years in senior roles across Europe, Asia and Africa, including as global chief marketing officer. At CFG he oversaw operations across the multi-club network and was credited by Stage Entertainment with supporting the group’s evolution from a football-focused business into a broader entertainment and hospitality platform.The timing is notable in Manchester. Manchester City recently submitted a planning application for a new immersive event venue at the Etihad Campus, intended to host ‘Mamma Mia! The Party’ as part of its Medlock Square development.City said the proposal forms part of its ambition to build a year-round entertainment destination in east Manchester, complementing the stadium’s expanded north stand and wider facilities including a hotel, food and drink outlets and other fan experiences.Stage Entertainment attracts around seven million people to its musicals each year and owns and operates 16 venues across Europe. It has been wholly owned by Advance since 2018.Stage Entertainment supervisory board member Janine McGrath Shelffo said: “We are thrilled to have Roel join Stage Entertainment to lead the next chapter of the company’s growth. "His specific experience and unique combination of strategic vision, customer-centricity and operational rigor align perfectly with the many exciting opportunities we see ahead for Stage.”CFG has not yet named a successor, with De Vries due to start at Stage Entertainment on May 1.