CHARLES BEIRNE NAMED GENERAL MANAGER & CEO OF THE COBB-MARIETTA COLISEUM & EXHIBIT HALL AUTHORITY
ATLANTA – The Cobb-Marietta Coliseum & Exhibit Hall Authority has announced the hiring of Charles Beirne as General Manager & CEO.
With more than 25 years of venue management experience, Beirne will be responsible for the administrative oversight and strategic growth of the Cobb Galleria Centre, Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, Galleria Specialty Shops and ArtsBridge Foundation.
“Charlie is uniquely qualified for this position because of his combination of experience leading convention centers, entertainment venues and performing arts centers,” said Jerry Nix, Chairman of the Authority. “Additionally, as we prepare to launch the renovation and expansion of the Cobb Galleria Centre in 2025, Charlie brings expertise in this area that is a perfect fit for our future growth.”
Beirne joins the Authority from the Broward County Convention Center Expansion and Hotel Project, where he was regional general manager responsible for the day-to-day operations of the convention center, which is currently undergoing a $1.4 billion expansion project. He has operated and expanded a variety of other facilities including the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center where he was responsible for the day-to-day operations of the convention center, two theaters, and an arena, as well as the Atlantic City Convention Center, where he held a variety of roles including regional general manager for the convention center and arena. Beirne is a graduate of Lebanon Valley College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration.
About Cobb Galleria Centre
The Cobb Galleria Centre is located in the beautifully landscaped 88-acre Galleria complex in prestigious northwest Atlanta. Cobb Galleria Centre is Atlanta’s premier convention facility with 320,000 square feet of event space, four exhibition halls, 20 meeting rooms, four executive boardrooms and a grand ballroom. Cobb Galleria Centre had more than 221,000 visitors to 213 events in 2023, resulting in an overall economic impact of $145 million. For more information, visit cobbgalleria.com and follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/CobbGalleria, on Twitter at @CobbGalleria and on Instagram at instagram.com/cobbgalleria/.
About Cobb Energy Centre
The Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre is located at 2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway in northwest Atlanta, inside the Perimeter. Cobb Energy Centre is a premier venue for opera, concerts, Broadway shows, ballet, educational shows, family shows and corporate meetings and events. The Centre hosts two resident companies, the Atlanta Ballet and The Atlanta Opera. The facility includes the 2,750-seat John A. Williams Theatre, 10,000-square-foot Kessel D. Stelling Ballroom and full-service food and beverage capabilities. For more information about the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, visit cobbenergycentre.com and follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/CEPAC, on Twitter at @CobbEnergyPAC and on Instagram at instagram.com/cobbenergypac/.
About ArtsBridge Foundation
ArtsBridge Foundation provides quality arts education and community programs that engage, motivate, inspire, and elevate the next generation of artists and arts supporters. ArtsBridge provides arts education opportunities to K-12 students through programs at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, including field trips, professional development, family programs, and the annual Shuler Awards®. Since 2007, ArtsBridge has served more than 425,000 students and educators from 70 Georgia counties, plus students from five bordering states. ArtsBridge Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. ArtsBridge Foundation and Georgia Public Broadcasting’s GPB-TV live broadcast of The Shulers® won the Southeast Emmy® Award in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023 and 2024 —and was a 2022 Emmy nominee —for special event coverage, indicative of the superb quality and high production value Georgia students bring to the stage. For more visit ArtsBridgeGA.org.
The Cobb-Marietta Coliseum and Exhibit Hall Authority owns and operates Cobb Galleria Centre, Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, ArtsBridge Foundation and Galleria Specialty Shops.