TONY COCHRANE
Whether it’s sporting events, concerts, theatre, or touring spectaculars, Tony’s passion and expertise make for a formidable combination that has resulted in some unforgettable milestones in Australian entertainment and sport in excess of 40 years. From a street race in the middle of the Sydney Olympic hub and staging massive concerts in an unconventional setting to originating events like the Clipsal 500 motor race, Tony continually pushes the envelope to produce the very best in electrifying entertainment.
It was on the Gold Coast in Australia where Tony first began to command international recognition. During his tenure as Chairman of V8 Supercars, he kindled the modern era of motor racing in Australia by instituting the Touring Car category. Internationally lauded as one of the world’s greatest racing spectacles, it resulted in Tony’s Hall of Fame induction.
Not just a master of sports production, Tony has been recognised the world over for his endeavours in the music and theatre industry. He has collected a Tony Award from the American Theatre and a pair of ARIAs for his work producing tours by classic and contemporary artists such as Frank Sinatra, Liza Minnelli, Sammy Davis Jr., John Farnham, Anthony Warlow, Clive James, Whitney Houston, Steve Winwood, The Beach Boys, and Placido Domingo—to name but a few.
Tony has played a key role in the ‘entertainment’ in Sports & Entertainment Limited (SEL) by staging and producing the organisation’s major shows and tours. Tony and his partners at SEL successfully stormed the entertainment industry with their production of the smash-hit Grease—The Arena Spectacular. The hugely popular Main Event came next, starring John Farnham, Olivia Newton-John and Anthony Warlow. SEL’s credits also include Australian icons Cold Chisel with their Last Wave of Summer reformation tour, the widely successful Australian tour of The Sound of Music, Annie, The Producers, and the Broadway hit Hairspray—for which he and his fellow producers won a Tony Award for Best Musical.
Tony Cochrane has set the vision and strategy for global entertainment events that have achieved, collectively, multi-billion dollar sales performance. Recognised as an innovator and tenacious leader, he has scaled four lean start ups, with modest investment, into profitable, international brands.