Fastforward And Ticketmaster Announce The Six Successful Applicants To Join Their New Mentoring Programme

12 February 2018 - Press release

Mentors include SVP Marketing Jackie Wilgar, Senior Manager International Business Development & Artist Relations John Talbot, VP Touring Kelly Chappel, Directors from across the Live Nation and Ticketmaster businesses

Mentees include Christopher Ludwig from BMG, Laura Kiesow from Caroline International (Benelux), and Abhishek Sen from NumberEight

Following the announcement of the FastForward and Ticketmaster Mentoring Programme in October, people applied from all corners of the globe and now the six successful applicants can be announced.

The year long programme will start in early March, soon after FastForward: Amsterdam, which takes place in central Amsterdam this week. Mentors will meet with their mentees each month for the year, supporting them with personal and professional development. 

Christine Lanoy (Senior Director Design & UX, Product, Ticketmaster) will work with Abhishek Sen, Co-Founder and CEO of NumberEight. NumberEight is a tech platform that derives a person’s ‘context’ from sensors in their phone, using AI to predict user intent.  

Jackie Wilgar (SVP, Marketing International, Live Nation) will work with Christopher Ludwig, Director of Digital Strategy at record label BMG, whose artists range from alt-J to Kylie, and from Blink-182 to Rick Astley.  

Jo Young (Associate Director of International Marketing Services, Ticketmaster) will work with Federica Tombini. Federica is Marketing Officer (Music and Festivals) at the Southbank Centre, promoting gigs across a wide variety of genres. 

John Talbot (Senior Manager, International Business Development & Artist Relations, Ticketmaster) is paired with artist Pryti Gatge.  As well as being a singer/songwriter, Pryti is Managing Director of Welcome To Pariahville Records.

Kelly Chappel (VP Touring, Europe, Live Nation) will be working with Laura Kiesow. Laura is Marketing Manager for Universal-owned Caroline International, based in Amsterdam, who looks after the Benelux region.  

Wes Holland (Director of Digital Product & Business Development, Marketing Solutions, Live Nation) is paired with Ivana Karabova. Ivana is Founder and CEO of digital marketing agency Isle of Digital.