Indie licensing agency Merlin reveals new CEO, promoting from within

Earlier this year, Jeremy Sirota announced that he would be stepping down from his role as CEO of independent-music licensing agency Merlin at the end of 2025. You may have read our pre-exit interview with him in September.

This morning, Merlin has announced his successor, and it’s a promotion from within. The new CEO is Charlie Lexton, who has been Merlin’s chief operating officer since 2020, and involved with the agency since it was founded in 2007.

“I am delighted at the opportunity to lead this organisation. My focus is on our members – the most significant grouping of independent music companies in the world – and on the Merlin team, our incredibly hard working and dedicated staff,” said Lexton.

Lexton’s appointment comes after a search for a new CEO that included external figures, with Merlin chairperson Darius Van Arman referring in his statement to meeting “a number of extraordinary leaders”. However, Lexton was the ultimate choice.

“Charlie Lexton has earned the trust of the Merlin membership by consistently delivering immense value throughout the organisation’s history,” said Van Arman.

“I am extremely confident that under his stewardship and working closely with the exceptional Merlin team, Merlin will reach new heights and further enable the independence of the world’s leading music companies.”

Merlin management board member Marie Clausen also praised Lexton as “a brilliant strategist and remarkable negotiator who has earned the respect of our membership, team, and partners”, while Sirota hailed him as “a great partner in evolving Merlin into what it is today”.