Josh Wyatt is Out as Avant Gardner CEO; Gary Richards to Step In

The turmoil surrounding Brooklyn Mirage has continued with a major shakeup at Avant Gardner, which saw CEO Josh Wyatt terminated from his role.

Avant Gardner hired Josh Wyatt as the company’s first-ever CEO in October, but less than a year later, he’s officially been fired. The news of his termination arrived earlier today and is rooted in the recent turmoil surrounding the Brooklyn Mirage, which was originally intended to reopen its doors after renovations in early May.

“Effective immediately, Josh Wyatt is no longer with Avant Gardner,” said Avant Gardner’s Director of People and Culture, Geraldine Clerfe in an email that was posted to the r/avesNYC subreddit. “We appreciate Josh for his contributions and wish him the best in his future endeavors.”

The letter from Clerfe continues on to state that non-executive Chairman of the Board Gary Richards – also known as Destructo and the founder of HARD Events, All My Friends, and Friendship – will take his place in the interim to manage day-to-day operations. He won’t be guiding the Brooklyn Mirage by himself, as leadership from Avant Gardner, including VP of Finance Alec Ifshin, General Counsel Faisal Lateef, Director of Operations Jermaine Santiago, Director of Programming & Partnerships Kenny Schachter, and CTO Stephen Wyker will assist.

“Gary brings extensive experience from the music industry and his leadership will be instrumental during this transition,” Clerfe said in the full email obtained by BKMAG. “Our immediate collective goal is to ensure the successful opening of the new Brooklyn Mirage. This is a critical milestone for us, and everyone’s dedication and teamwork are essential.”

In January, Josh Wyatt told us about his plans for Brooklyn Mirage, touching on everything from the venue’s new changes and upgrades to building back loyalty from fans and safety enhancements. Yet, as the date for its reopening loomed on the horizon it seemed straightforward that the venue would not be ready to open for quite some time.

The past few weeks have seen Brooklyn Mirage face everything from operational and construction delays to failed inspections and issues with city regulations, all leading to the cancelation of the past three weeks’ worth of shows. This included performances that were set to feature Sara Landry, Excision, The Chainsmokers, Loud Luxury, Cloonee, and the Anjuna25 showcase, all of which either led to the artists and brands scrambling to find new venues in New York or rescheduling for a later date.

Those who planned to attend these shows and others from the community have loudly voiced their opinions on various social media platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and Reddit. The overall lack of transparency contrasted with what Wyatt had publicly stated after taking over as CEO, but the appointment of Richards might indicate that there will be some stability in the coming weeks as Avant Gardner looks to salvage the rest of the summer season.