(left to right) Chris Hurne, Toni Coe-Brooker, Denzil Thomas, Beverley Whitrick, Rebecca Walker, Sophie Asquith, Adrian Norman & Mark Davyd (photo credit: Katie Frost)

Music Venue Trust Strengthens Leadership Team for Next Phase of Growth

Expanded senior management team supports long-term sustainability as charity builds on landmark year for the UK’s grassroots music venue sector

Music Venue Trust (MVT) has strengthened its senior leadership team as the charity enters its next phase of growth, completing a multi-year programme to build a resilient management structure that will support its long-term sustainability and ensure it continues to protect, champion and invest in the UK’s Grassroots Music Venue (GMV) network.

The appointments reflect the scale and ambition of an organisation whose influence has grown significantly in recent years. With its work expanding across advocacy, investment, funding, policy, partnerships and member services, Music Venue Trust has established a broader leadership team to ensure the expertise, governance and succession planning are in place to support the charity’s continued growth and impact.

The strengthened leadership team follows another landmark year for Music Venue Trust and the Grassroots Music Venue sector. During 2026 the charity has launched its Investment Projects programme, staged the nationwide Everywhere At Once festival, helped secure Government recognition of Grassroots Music Venues through both the Music Plan and the Music Growth Package, and successfully campaigned for a further 20% reduction in business rates for Grassroots Music Venues.

Toni Coe-Brooker and Rebecca Walker have both been promoted into departmental leadership roles after joining Music Venue Trust in 2020 and 2021 respectively, while Chris Hurne and Adrian Norman joined the charity earlier this year to strengthen its external affairs and financial leadership.

The appointments complete a wider organisational development programme that has established a 21-strong team across four departments, providing dedicated expertise in venue support, fundraising, partnerships, campaigns, communications, live project delivery and finance. Together, the expanded team gives Music Venue Trust the organisational capacity to meet the growing needs of its venue members while continuing to lead national campaigns, influence policy and develop new initiatives that strengthen the grassroots music sector.

Chris Prosser & Jane Beese, Co-Chairs the MVT Board

“Over the past 12 years, Music Venue Trust has transformed the conversation around Grassroots Music Venues, championing their cultural and economic importance while delivering tangible support to the sector. The progress made has only been possible because of the passion and commitment of an exceptional team. As Trustees, one of our key priorities has been ensuring that the charity itself is built on strong, sustainable foundations. With a highly experienced senior management team now in place, delivering a robust succession plan, we are confident that MVT is entering its next chapter with the expertise, resilience and leadership needed to continue protecting, strengthening and advocating for the UK’s Grassroots Music Venue network for many years to come.”

Mark Davyd, Founder & CEO of MVT

“Music Venue Trust has never been about one individual. Everything we’ve achieved over the past 12 years has come from building an exceptional team with the expertise and commitment to fight for Grassroots Music Venues every day. I am incredibly proud to see colleagues like Toni and Rebecca step into senior leadership roles, alongside Chris and Adrian bringing new expertise into the organisation. Together, this leadership team ensures we’re stronger, more resilient and better equipped than ever to support the UK’s Grassroots Music Venue community for many years to come.”