Component of the velvet transcription factor complex that controls sexual/asexual developmental ratio in response to light, promoting sexual development in the darkness while stimulating asexual sporulation under illumination (By similarity). The velvet complex hat acts as a global regulator for secondary metabolite gene expression (By similarity). Controls the biosynthetic gene cluster for beauvericin, a depsipeptide mycotoxin that functions as a virulence determinant (PubMed:23106229). Regulates also chromatin structure and transcription of siderophore biosynthetic genes and is required for infection of tomato plants (PubMed:23106229). Governs expression of nitrate metabolism genes (PubMed:24240057). Component of the heterotrimeric velvet complex composed of laeA, veA and velB; VeA acting as a bridging protein between laeA and velB (PubMed:23106229). Enriched in the nucleus in the dark (By similarity). The C-terminal PEST domain is a region rich in proline, glutamic acid, serine and threonine residues that is required for the light-dependent regulation of development and secondary metabolism (By similarity). Impairs production of beauvericin and attenuates virulence during infection of tomato plants (PubMed:23106229). Impairs also growth on the non-preferred nitrogen sources nitrate and nitrite (PubMed:24240057). Belongs to the velvet family. VeA subfamily.