Within the newest chapter of ongoing turmoil surrounding New York’s famed Avant Gardner complicated, a significant management shakeup has been confirmed. Efficient instantly, Josh Wyatt is not serving as CEO of Avant Gardner, the mum or dad firm behind Brooklyn Mirage, some of the iconic venues within the digital music world.
The announcement was made by way of an inside memo shared on the r/avesNYC Reddit group, marking a major shift because the venue grapples with operational delays, regulatory challenges, and a public relations storm.
Taking the reins within the interim is Gary Richards, identified to the digital music group as Destructo — the legendary founding father of HARD Occasions and present captain of Friendship and All My Buddies festivals. Richards, who beforehand served as non-executive Chairman of the Board, will now oversee day-to-day operations for Avant Gardner.
Richards will likely be supported by key members of Avant Gardner’s management staff:
- Geraldine Clerfe, Director of Folks and Tradition
- Alec Ifshin, Vice President of Finance
- Faisal Lateef, Normal Counsel
- Jermaine Santiago, Director of Operations
- Kenny Schachter, Director of Programming & Partnerships
- Stephen Wyker, Chief Technical Officer
This management pivot arrives simply days after Avant Gardner was compelled to delay the 2025 opening of Brooklyn Mirage — its flagship open-air venue — pushing all Memorial Day weekend exhibits and former ones. The postponement sparked widespread disappointment and concern throughout the digital music group, as ticket holders and artists have been left scrambling. Whereas the venue cited ongoing work with the Metropolis of New York to fulfill regulatory necessities, rumors swirled on-line about deeper structural and authorized points, with many pointing fingers at mismanagement on the government stage.
Public discourse surrounding Avant Gardner has grown more and more tense in current weeks, with Reddit threads and social media posts highlighting a scarcity of transparency, last-minute schedule adjustments, and dissatisfaction amongst employees and followers alike. The ousting of Wyatt and the appointment of Richards — a seasoned business veteran with a fame for curating visionary occasion experiences — might sign an effort to stabilize operations and restore confidence forward of a vital summer time season.
Nonetheless, the street forward stays unsure. The Brooklyn Mirage, which has grown into one in all North America’s premier digital music locations, should now overcome regulatory hurdles and reputational harm whereas making ready for a condensed and high-stakes season. All eyes will likely be on how Richards and his new staff steer the ship — and whether or not they can fulfill the promise of an “unforgettable expertise” for followers, artists, and the broader nightlife group.
