Global Entertainment Experiences, Rooted in Africa

Natasha Manley

CEO

Natasha Manley is a leading entertainment industry expert and curator, with 20+ years of experience in leadership positions within prominent global culture defining organisations.

Over the course of five years at TMG, Natasha has led a team of industry change makers to champion Africa and global diasporas, developing, empowering and elevating through investment in talent, product, technology and unique live and digital experiences.

Natasha has overseen the team responsible for the strategic expansion of festival brands such as Afro Nation, Piano People and LIT Everywhere, launching the shows into multiple new territories across three continents.  Additionally, Natasha has driven the team to build pioneering content and commercial partnerships with the likes of YouTube, Spotify, Bacardi, Hennessy, MTN Africa and Access Bank.

With a track record of leadership roles in market-defining international companies including Warner Music Group and Live Nation, Natasha has produced multiple entertainment activations. As the Global Head of Artist Marketing for Red Bull, she devised the global marketing strategy across 60 markets including US, UK, Europe, South America, the Middle East and Asia.

Beyond her professional endeavours, Natasha sits on the board of MDS a charity aimed at creating high level career opportunities for women of the African Diaspora, serves as a special advisor to the board of the Global Jamaica Diaspora Council and has given time as a career mentor for Migrants to the United States through the Upwardly Global charity organisation.

As well as having grown up in Jamaica as having grown up in Jamaica, Natasha has lived and worked in London, Edinburgh, Rio de Janeiro and San Francisco, all of which informs her global lens.

Samantha Garcia

CFO

Sam Garcia brings over two decades of finance experience to the role of CFO of TMG. Starting her career in investment banking, Sam has subsequently spent over a decade in the music industry at EMI, Sony, Warner Chappell, PRS For Music and several start-up publishing and live ventures, including a leadership role across over 15 global music festivals and live music venues under Global Radio’s Live division.

Sam was a founding team member of Hipgnosis Songs Fund and during her time in the music industry has modelled investment deals for a plethora of music superstars and culturally significant songwriters in the Anglo-American market.

A qualified data scientist, Sam’s expertise in data driven royalty reporting and artist / songwriter deal structuring enables her to deliver artist and writer friendly deals within the modern digital landscape.

Sam achieved her chartered accounting qualification at PWC in the London Banking & Capital Markets division and has since worked in both corporate and start-up environments, including PE backed and stock exchange listed companies.

Sam mentors young people to help them enter professional environments and supports upcoming artists with the business-side of their new careers.

Absera Gizaw

CSO

Absera Gizaw leverages over a decade of invaluable professional expertise in her role as the Chief Strategy and Growth Officer at TMG.

Prior to Absera’s CSO role at TMG, she was the Co-Head of the Helios Sports and Entertainment Group (HSEG), TMG’s majority shareholder. At HSEG, she led the investment in and the development of TMG. Absera was also instrumental in the formation of HSEG and developing the platform’s strategy around investing in the growing global reliance on African talent across sport, music, and creative industries. Building a portfolio spanning NBA Africa, Basketball Africa League, Professional Fighter’s League Africa, Zaria Group and more.

Absera was also a senior member of the Helios Private Equity team, originating and executing several transactions across the African continent with a focus on Media, Telecommunications and Digital Infrastructure. She honed her skills as an Investment Banking Analyst at Citigroup in London where she was focussed on M&A and capital markets transactions in emerging markets. She holds Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Finance, Cum Laude from the Nyenrode Business University and the University of Amsterdam, Duisenberg School of Finance.

Born in Ethiopia and having spent most of her childhood in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, Absera possesses a unique cultural perspective with a deep passion for Africa. Absera is an art-lover and amongst several advisory and board director roles, is also a board member at Artamine, the destination for fine art editions from emerging African artists.

Obi Asika

Founder

Obi Asika is the Founder of TMG and Co-Head Music (UK) of United Talent Agency (UTA).

TMG is one of the world’s leading live entertainment and content companies, creating and producing global events and travel experiences. These pioneering events incorporate the highest production values for the biggest global artists as well as providing a platform for new talent.  Events include the globally successful Afro Nation which has taken place in Portugal, Ghana, Miami, Detroit and Puerto Rico and has hosted the biggest Afrobeats artists on the planet including Burna Boy, Wizkid and Davido.  Other shows include Piano People, LIT Everywhere, Rolling Loud Portugal, Indaba X and Laughing Leopard.

Obi and Afro Nation founded the world’s first official Afrobeats chart with The Official Charts Company which is hosted weekly on BBC 1Xtra in the UK and on Billboard in the USA.

Obi is also co-head of Music (UK) at UTA. He is responsible for driving UTA’s thriving music business as well as expanding existing practice areas including comedy, sports, marketing and other verticals.

UTA Music is at the forefront of culture and Obi is steering its expansion into growth areas such as music brand partnerships, music crossover and tour marketing. UTA works with a wide range of established and emerging artists across all genres including Arlo Parks, Bad Bunny, Burna Boy, Cardi B, Chase & Status, Tyla, Lizzo, Wizkid, Christine and the Queens, Major League DJz and Rosalía.