Sphere Entertainment Co. (NYSE: SPHR) announced today that Bill Walshe, an accomplished leader with more than 30 years of experience in the global hospitality and travel industries, has joined the company as Executive Vice President, Global Head of Venue Operations and Development for Sphere.
In this new role, Mr. Walshe will drive venue operations, overseeing the processes, standards and structure that ensure Sphere in Las Vegas continues to provide a world-class experience while also achieving growth initiatives. In addition, he will work cross-functionally across the organization to develop, execute, and support strategic plans aligned with the Company’s overall business objectives, which includes establishing a global network of Sphere venues. Mr. Walshe will be based in Las Vegas and report to Jennifer Koester, President and Chief Operating Officer, Sphere.
“Sphere is a global destination for immersive experiences unlike anywhere else,” said Ms. Koester. “Bill’s expertise across premier brands in international markets will be an asset as we continue to deliver an unparalleled experience for guests, artists, and partners at our Las Vegas venue, while pursuing our long-term growth goals for this next-generation entertainment medium.”
“Throughout my career I have been dedicated to providing elevated hospitality and travel experiences around the world,” said Mr. Walshe. “Joining Sphere is a tremendous opportunity to be part of this groundbreaking venue, and I look forward to working with my colleagues across the organization as we continue to scale the business to exceed expectations in Las Vegas and beyond.”
Mr. Walshe’s multi-faceted career includes leadership roles across a range of premier global hospitality and travel brands. He was most recently Chief Executive Officer of Viceroy Hotel Group, where for more than a decade he oversaw a portfolio of award-winning hotels and resorts across the United States, Europe, Mexico, and The Caribbean. Prior to joining Viceroy Hotel Group, Mr. Walshe served as Chief Executive Officer of The Doyle Collection, a Dublin-based hotel group with properties in Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Mr. Walshe also previously served as Chief Marketing Officer of the U.A.E.-based Jumeirah Group, where as a senior member of the global hospitality company’s executive team he was responsible for sales, marketing, and innovation initiatives across a diverse portfolio of hotels, resorts, and associated leisure businesses. Mr. Walshe’s global hospitality industry experience also includes sales roles with Kempinski Hotel & Resorts and Hilton Hotels Corporation.
Mr. Walshe received an Executive MBA from the Reims Management School in France, and a degree in Hotel and Catering Management from the Galway International Hotel School in Ireland.
About Sphere
Sphere is a next-generation entertainment medium that is redefining the future of live entertainment. A venue where the foremost artists, creators, and technologists will create extraordinary experiences that take storytelling to a new level and transport audiences to places both real and imagined. The venue will host original Sphere Experiences from leading Hollywood directors; concerts and residencies from the world's biggest artists; and premier marquee events. The first Sphere venue opened in Las Vegas in September 2023, and is a new Las Vegas landmark, powered by cutting-edge technologies that ignite the senses and enable audiences to share experiences at a never-before-seen scale. More information is available at thesphere.com.
About Sphere Entertainment
Sphere Entertainment Co. is a premier live entertainment and media company. The Company includes Sphere, a next-generation entertainment medium powered by cutting-edge technologies to redefine the future of entertainment. The first Sphere venue opened in Las Vegas in September 2023. In addition, the Company includes MSG Networks, which operates two regional sports and entertainment networks, MSG Network and MSG Sportsnet, as well as a direct-to-consumer and authenticated streaming product, MSG+, delivering a wide range of live sports content and other programming. More information is available at sphereentertainmentco.com.