AEG Presents Global Touring Announces Promotions, Strategic Marketing Hires

AEG Presents has announced a series of promotions and new hires within its Global Touring division, elevating two longtime team members while adding new leadership across marketing and digital strategy as the company continues to expand its worldwide touring footprint.

Caleb Merrell and Laurel Hilburn have both been promoted from Tour Director to Senior Tour Director, reflecting their growing roles within AEG Presents’ touring operations. In addition, Ryan Erickson has joined the company as Senior Director of Marketing, and Emily Harenza has been hired as Director of Digital Marketing, strengthening the Global Touring marketing team with extensive experience across live entertainment, music, and media.

Merrell and Hilburn will remain based in Nashville, with Merrell reporting to Jonathan Baden, Senior Vice President of Production & Direct Support, and Hilburn reporting to Jenny Heifetz Henault, Senior Vice President of Touring. Erickson will be based in Los Angeles, reporting to Rich Holtzman, Senior Vice President of Marketing & Artist Development, while Harenza will work out of AEG Presents’ New York office, reporting to Senior Director of Marketing Victoria Cappelli Greiner.

“Laurel and Caleb have played integral roles in our touring operation, and we’re proud to promote them to Senior Directors,” Rich Schaefer, President of Global Touring at AEG Presents, said in a press release. “We’re equally excited to welcome Ryan and Emily’s expertise to the marketing team, a group that continuously innovates in service of our artists and their tours.”

In their expanded roles, Merrell and Hilburn will take on broader operational responsibilities aimed at strengthening coordination between office-based teams and personnel on the road. Merrell will focus on creating greater operational synergy across touring teams, while Hilburn will serve as a key resource for refining systems and processes as the Global Touring division continues to scale.

Merrell joined AEG Presents as Director of Touring and spent significant time on the road supporting major tours. He has also been instrumental in developing systems for AEG Presents’ produced tours, particularly within the rapidly growing K-pop sector. Hilburn’s path at AEG began as a Contracts Administrator, followed by roles as Booking Assistant, Project Manager in the Nashville office, and Touring Representative overseeing finance and production needs on the road before most recently serving as Tour Director.

“It’s an honor to be part of this world-class team that continues to expand our reach with record-breaking artists,” Merrell said in the release. “I am thankful for the opportunity to grow within AEG professionally, and I look forward to many more years to come.”

Hilburn echoed that sentiment, adding that “working on tours at this level is something I never could have imagined when I started at AEG so many years ago.”

“I consider myself lucky to be part of the Global Touring team and its success over the last five-plus years and am looking forward to what lies ahead,” Hillburn said.

On the marketing side, Erickson will lead campaigns for some of Global Touring’s largest tours. He brings more than a decade of experience in live entertainment marketing, including eight years in tour marketing at Live Nation. Earlier in his career, Erickson worked in social media for Red Rocks Amphitheatre and in lifestyle marketing at Universal Music Group.

“I’m so excited to join the AEG Presents Global Touring team,” Erickson said in a statement. “I’ve always been driven to help artists achieve their touring visions and connect with their fans worldwide. I’m grateful to build on that work and contribute to AEG’s continued impact across the global touring landscape. There truly is nothing like the experience of live music.”

Harenza will oversee digital strategy across tours within the Global Touring division. She began her career at AC Entertainment, supporting digital marketing for major festivals including Bonnaroo, before moving into tour marketing at Mick Management. Most recently, she served as a Senior Project Manager at Paramount, where she led partnership-driven Kids & Family campaigns tied to major properties such as the NFL and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

“I’ve always loved connecting fans and touring artists through strategic, creative digital campaigns,” Harenza said. “I’m so excited to be back in the music world doing just that with AEG Presents’ Global Touring division.”