Sacha Lord announces departure from The Warehouse Project and Parklife

Sacha Lord has announced that he will be stepping back from his roles at The Warehouse Project and Parklife after 20 years.

In a statement posted on Instagram today (18 July) Lord confirmed that he would be exiting the two businesses he co-founded, following a deal to transfer his shares to LN Gaiety — a joint venture between Live Nation and Gaiety Investments which acquired a majority share in the businesses in 2016.

"In 2021 the deal was agreed and in my book, released in April, I mentioned I would be stepping back and today, following a transfer of shares, is the day that happens," Lord shared in his statement.

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"This wasn’t an easy decision to make. Parklife and The Warehouse Project have been my whole life for the past two decades."

Lord co-founded The Warehouse Project alongside his Sankeys business partner Sam Kandel and Rich McGinnis in 2006, with the debut event held at Bodington's brewery in Strangeways, Manchester.

Lord later went on to co-found Parklife in 2010, the annual June weekender held in Manchester's Heaton Park, which celebrated its 13th edition this year.

According to a report from Access All Areas, Kandel and McGinnis will remain part of The Warehouse Project team.

In his statement, Lord said that the decision means he can "focus more time" on his role as Night Time Economy Advisor to Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham, as well as his position as Chair of the Night Night Time Industries Association.

"To everyone over the years who has worked at Parklife or The Warehouse Project thank you. I will miss you all," Lord's statement continues.

"To the millions of people who have stepped foot in Parklife or The Warehouse Project, thank you. Without you all, they wouldn’t have been so great."

Mixmag has contacted representatives for The Warehouse Project for comment.

You can read Sacha Lord's full statement below.

Megan Townsend is Mixmag's Deputy Editor, follow her on Twitter