Music chairs -- Week 5 of 2021

 USA

Warner Chappell Music has appointed David Woirhaye as the new EVP and Global CFO. Based in Los Angeles, he reports to the music publishing company's Co-Chair and CEO Guy Moot and Co-Chair and COO Carianne Marshall. Woirhaye joined Warner Music Group in 2005, and was for the past five years SVP, CFO for Rhino Entertainment and Global Catalogue Management at WMG.

Provident Entertainment has named Megan Joyce as the company new Vice President, Business and Legal Affairs. She was Sr. VP, Business and Legal Affairs at Roc Nation in New York. 

Motion Picture Association Vice President, Copyright and Legal Affairs Jennifer Pariser has been named to the board of directors of the Center for Intellectual Property Understanding (CIPU). She will work with the board in areas of academic outreach, events and materials creation, including expansion ofIP Awareness Basics Central (IPABC). The CIPU is an independent, non-profit organisation dedicated to raising awareness about creations of the mind and their impact on people and business.

Jessica Goldenberg, Warner Music Group (WMG)'s Vice President of Digital Strategy & Business Development, is joining the board of directors of SoundExchange. The US neighbouring rights organisation's board of directors is composed of representatives from the music industry: major and independent labels, recording artists, and music organisations. “I’m proud to contribute to SoundExchange’s mission of protecting the long-term value of music,” said Goldenberg. 


Greg Marella has been promoted to President of Promotion and Executive Vice President of Capitol Music Group (CMG), a division of Universal Music Group. Based in Hollywood, he reports to the company’s Chairman & CEO, Jeff Vaughn. In his elevated position, Marella will continue to oversee the planning and execution of promotion strategies for the company’s portfolio of labels and as CMG EVP role, he will "help strategise and navigate CMG’s future course as a key member of Vaughn’s executive management team."

New York-based artist manager Justin Becker is launching of a new management firm, Murmuration. Becker spent the past ten years at Chicago-based Ekonomisk Management and he will take with him a roster that includes AlexLahey, Bayonne, Okkervil River, Sondre Lerche and Tift Merrit, which will be co-managed with Ekonomisk.

Sourav Nayak has been named Vice President of Finance at Soundstripe, the company providing unlimited, royalty-free music, stock video, and sound effects for use in videos, podcasts, and other media projects. He reports to co-founders and Co-CEOs Micah Sannan and Travis Terrell. In this new role, he will be responsible for overseeing the company’s financial strategy, capital raising, product pricing, financial planning and analysis, and treasury. Nayak was previously Vice President of Finance at clean energy start-up Arcadia.


Matt Signore has been appointed President of the Board of Franklin, Tennessee-based nonprofit Porter’s Call, which provides counsel and support to touring recording artists. Signore, who was the former COO of Warner Music Nashville, has also launched Sempre Cosi, an independent venture focused on mentoring executives and artist.

DeWitt partners Eric Chadwick, Joseph Miotke and Harry Van Camp have been appointed Co-chairs of the US law firm's Intellectual Property (IP) Litigation Practice Group. Chadwick operates from DeWitt’s Minneapolis office, Miotke out of DeWitt’s Metro-Milwaukee office and Van Camp from Madison, Wisconsin. 

FRANCE

Laurine Garaude, director of Reed Midem’s television division since 2009, will be leaving the Paris-based trade show organiser at the end of January, after close to 30 years with the company. Jerome Delhaye, Reed Midem’s entertainment division director, and deputy director Lucy Smith, will run the division until a replacement has been appointed.   

Monique Zerbib-Chemla has been appointed interim President of Hadopi, the French internet infringing content watchdog, replacing Denis Rapone, whose three-year mandate is coming to an end. Zerbib-Chemla was a member of the Hadopi since 2019.

BELGIUM

Jean-Paul Philippot, General Administrator of Belgian's public broadcaster for the French Community RTBF, was elected President of the Francophone Public Media. Philippot will take office on May 1, 2021, at which time he will replace Sibyle Veil, President and CEO of Radio France.

UK

Matt Phipps-Taylor has been appointed Chief Information Officer at independent music company peermusic. He was Chief Data Officer at British neighbouring rights society PPL. At peermusic, he will lead the company's Global Technology team and oversee the technology and data platforms used across peermusic’s global network of music publishing and neighbouring rights companies operating from 38 offices in 31 countries. Based in London, he reports to peermusic CEO Mary Megan Peer and Chief Financial Officer Bill Gorjance.


Warner Music Group has promoted Alen Torosyan to Vice President of Operations, Emerging Markets. Torosyan’s new portfolio includes supporting WMG’s expansion plans and helping to consolidate its existing footprint in key emerging markets, most notably Africa and the Middle East. His remit also involves coordinating Legal and Business Affairs, and Finance activities within Warner Music’s emerging market affiliates. Based in London, he report to Alfonso Perez-Soto, President, Emerging Markets. Torosyan joined the WMG in 2015 and was named Director of Business and Legal Affairs in 2018.


Deviate Digital has appointed Stef Pascual as the British marketing agency's first strategy director. Based in London, he reports to CEO Sammy Andrews. He was the former head of digital at Crown Talent, The Orchard, Sony Red & Essential. In addition, AndraIszlai joins as social media advertising specialist from Live Nation where she was a marketing executive, and Alex Rusted has been promoted to senior digital marketing manager.   

British veteran music executive Mervyn Lyn is joining the board of trustees of not-for-profit music therapy organisation Nordoff Robbins. “Mervyn will bring so much to Nordoff Robbins, with his understanding of the impact music therapy can have, having such extensive experience in the industry and his huge desire for change in diversity, equality and inclusion – everything about him and his life’s work aligns with our mission," said Sandra Schembri, Chief Executive of Nordoff Robbins.


GERMANY

German music publishing executive Jean-Markus Wegener has joined Berlin-based boutique publishing company Guesstimate as Senior Consultant for Publishing. "We are about to expand our publishing activities on a worldwide level," said Wegener. Guesstimate's activities include six labels, a talent management operation, a touring units and brand entertainment and marketing service. Wegener left Meisel Music at the end of 2020.

GUINEA

Sona Konaté has named Minister of Culture, Sports and Historical Heritage of Guinea in the new Government of Prime Minister Ibrahima Kassory Fofana. She succeeds Sanoussy Bantama Sow, who held this position since 2017. Konaté has served since 2018 as Director General of the Guinean Export Promotion Agency.

AUSTRALIA

Former Network 10 Chief Operating Officer Annabelle Herd has been named CEO of the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) and Phonographic Performance Company of Australia (PPCA), following the resignation of Dan Rosen, who is becoming CEO of Warner Music Australasia. “The last year has been challenging for our artists and members, so I look forward to representing and advancing the interests of those who make our industry so special given the pivotal time that we are in,” said Herd. In addition, ARIA general manager Lynne Small has been promoted to Chief Operating Officer, reporting into Herd.