Music City Center Appoints Anthony Lopez President as Starks Stays Chief Executive

Music City Center in Nashville has appointed Anthony Lopez as president of the 2.1 million square foot convention centre, splitting a dual role that Charles Starks has held since 2005. Starks remains chief executive. The change gives Lopez responsibility for day-to-day operations of the facility and for planning and resourcing across departments, with the directors of engineering, event services, facilities, parking, security and technology reporting to him. Starks continues to oversee sales, finance, purchasing and communications and will focus on larger projects affecting the centre's future, including potential expansion. Lopez joins from the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas, where he was general manager, and previously served as assistant general manager of operations at McCormick Place in Chicago, the largest convention centre in the United States. Originally from Great Bend, Kansas, he served in the United States Navy Reserve and studied at Iowa State University before beginning a hospitality career with Ogden Entertainment more than 35 years ago. Starks said Lopez has an exceptional reputation and will help build on the centre's record.