As Live Nation Entertainment prepares for a significant leadership change at its Ticketmaster division, industry veteran Saumil Mehta has been appointed Global President effective November 1, 2025. This marks a strategic shift toward artificial intelligence integration in the ticketing giant’s operations. Mehta succeeds Mark Yovich, who will move to Chairman, focusing on long-term strategy and global expansion initiatives while Mehta reports directly to Live Nation CEO Michael Rapino.
Mehta joins Ticketmaster after a distinguished nine-year tenure at Square, where he most recently served as Chief Product Officer and Head of Business Operations. His background includes founding LocBox, a marketing automation startup acquired by Square in 2015, and extensive experience scaling technology platforms that serve millions of small businesses and hundreds of millions of consumers worldwide.
The appointment comes at a critical juncture for Ticketmaster, which faces ongoing legal challenges and increased scrutiny regarding ticket distribution practices. Mehta’s mandate explicitly includes spearheading an AI transformation initiative designed to combat persistent issues like bot fraud, scalping, and opaque allocation processes that have damaged consumer trust. The company’s global presence gives him responsibility for leading over 4,000 teammates across more than 35 countries worldwide.
Ticketmaster’s strategic pivot to AI arrives amid legal scrutiny and eroding trust over distribution practices that have plagued the industry.
“My focus will be evolving the ticketing experience through smarter, more intuitive connections between fans and the events they love,” Mehta stated in the announcement. His strategy emphasizes leveraging artificial intelligence to enhance pricing algorithms, personalize discovery mechanisms, and streamline purchase flows. Mehta plans to incorporate social media advertising strategies to better target and engage with potential ticket buyers. The company is also exploring integration with streaming platforms to help artists connect ticketing directly with their music distribution channels.
Mehta’s operational excellence record suggests a thorough approach to the transformation effort. His experience in turning around underperforming business units and implementing organizational restructuring will likely influence Ticketmaster’s integration of advanced AI systems while maintaining service continuity.
The leadership change reflects Live Nation’s recognition that technological innovation is essential for addressing both market pressures and regulatory concerns. By prioritizing fan-centric design and transparent processes through AI implementation, Ticketmaster aims to reestablish industry leadership while improving experiences for artists, teams, and venues globally. The company believes AI technology resources will help navigate the numerous legal challenges from the FTC, DOJ, and state attorneys general.
Mehta’s technology background positions him uniquely to navigate this complex transformation while balancing commercial imperatives with improved consumer experiences.
