ASM Global’s Tim Worton to step down after 33 year entertainment industry career

Tim Worton, Group Director of Arenas for ASM Global (APAC), has announced that he is to step away from the industry after 25 years as part of the ASM Global family and 33 years in the entertainment industry.

Changing pace, Worton will initially begin as a full-time student in 2025 at Moore Theological College in Sydney for 12 months, with the goal of then working in a pastoral, chaplaincy or ministry role.

A lover of music and live concerts, the veteran of thousands of stage acts and superstars insists the music will not stop when he departs at the end of 2024.

Highly regarded in the venue management and live entertainment world, he has been at the forefront of ASM Global’s live performance venues as Director of the group’s arenas for the past 19 years.

The announcement of Worton’s career change was made during the 31st Asia Pacific Venue Industry Congress held at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre (BCEC).

ASM Global (APAC) Chairman and Chief Executive, Harvey Lister AM said Tim Worton would be greatly missed as Director of ASM Global’s portfolio of arenas throughout Australia and the Asia Pacific region.

Lister advised “Tim has been a great ambassador for our organisation. He has made an admirable and life changing decision to follow his faith and we applaud his decision and wish him well. 

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

Thanking the company and in particular Lister and Rod Pilbeam for their ongoing support during his time at ASM Global (APAC) and for his decision of a career change, Worton stated “the company has given me amazing opportunities that I will always cherish.

“Harvey has been incredibly supportive of my decision to go in this vastly different direction, allowing flexibility in my role and I am very grateful for his support and encouragement. Rod has been a great mentor to me over my 25 years with ASM Global and I am indebted to him for the important role he has played in my life.”  

Reflecting on the highlights during his custodianship of the ASM Global arena portfolio, Worton (pictured) says they are two-fold, adding “helping to ensure there is plenty of live content and the company’s arena network is operationally and financially successful is a key part of my role. What I have loved most about my career is supporting and mentoring colleagues, helping to create opportunities for future development.”

The veteran of thousands of concerts is hard pressed to choose a favourite, but reflected “an almost impossible task, if I’m forced to choose, I’d go with Bruce Springsteen.”

Worton says he is incredibly excited to embark on this new journey and hopes that he is able to make a difference in his pastoral role.