Warner Music, CAA, Believe, More

Here’s a recap of recent music industry hires and in-house promotions as of December 15th, 2025.

If you have a job shuffle to share, we’re all ears. Send us a note to [email protected]. If you’d like to post a job on our Job Board, just send us a request to [email protected]. And, keep track of all the latest music industry hires here.

WMG

Warner Music Group has announced a number of promotions and shifts across several divisions. At Warner Classics & Erato, Alain Lanceron will transition from president to chairman emeritus on January 1st.

Nonesuch Records president David Bither, for his part, is expanding “his role to add oversight of Warner Classics & Erato to his responsibilities,” with longtime WMG higher-up Markus Petersen becoming Warner Classics’ first EVP and GM.

Next, Warner Chappell “has unified its global sync operations” around EVP of global sync and media Rich Robinson, who will oversee the publisher’s frontline, catalog, production music, and audio asset teams.

Meanwhile, 10 have been elevated at Warner Music Australasia and Southeast Asia, where Alex Young (now Australasia’s VP of domestic artists) and Dan Ellis (international artist strategy VP for Australasia and SE Asia alike) are expected to “help drive” the new leadership structure.

Rounding out the list of promoted professionals are Charlotte Kindred (Australasia’s head of domestic artist strategy), Sarah Thomas (artist relations and promotions manager for Australasia export), Lucy Baker (head of PR, artist relations, and wellbeing for Australia and New Zealand), Jordon Dionatos (Australasia’s international artist strategy lead), Lisan Yee (Southeast Asia’s international artist strategy lead), Manny Kupelian (head of creator strategy), Mat Buck (GM for streaming, social, and community), and Luke Vespa (streaming and partnerships lead).

Lastly, Warner Records A&R EVP Jeff Sosnow has been tapped to simultaneously serve as Reprise Records’ president, and Warner Music India’s Divo today appointed Ashok Parwani (formerly with Sony Music India) head of music.

CAA

Creative Artists Agency has also revealed multiple promotions in its music division, where Carly Damelio (a six-year CAA vet), Ella Fernandez (four years), and Todd Matsumoto (five years) have all been upped to executive.

Additionally, CAA has boosted Jack Belkin, Rhys France, and Sydney Weltman to agent.

UMG UK

Universal Music Group UK has named Rebecca Allen chief artist and strategy officer. In the newly created role, the longtime Decca exec will connect various label “teams to ensure artists benefit from the unique breadth and scope of opportunities at” the major.

Believe

Believe has acquired Darya Pourshasb’s ampd Method and welcomed the former Spotify exec as chief marketing officer.

Babygrande Records

Shiest Bubz has signed on as Babygrande Records’ A&R VP.

Paragon

Paragon has brought on Geary Yonker as a sponsorship consultant; the radio sales vet will remain VuHaus Group’s sponsorship director as well.

Bucks Music Group

Longtime Peermusic UK royalties exec Rick Lansdell has joined Bucks Music as COO, succeeding the retired Shaun Hendry.

Additionally, Bucks has unveiled six promotions, bumping: Flash Taylor to international A&R head; James Paterson to UK A&R head for BDi Music as well as Bucks proper; Rhiannon Bramley to senior A&R for Bucks and BDi; Maria McDonald to international copyright manager; Sevana Mehrunnesa to UK copyright manager; and Andrea Loizidou to sync executive.

Virgin Music Group

In South Africa, UMG’s Virgin Music has upped Nicole Thomas from co-country manager to MD. And Thomas has confirmed the elevation of Gareth Wilson (to GM), Nicola Chadwick (head of business affairs and royalties), Hlompho Motana (senior business development manager), and Waide Lemos (head of label operations).

ASCAP Foundation

The ASCAP Foundation has confirmed New York Composers Circle co-founder Patricia Leonard as executive director.

[PIAS]

After more than a quarter century with [PIAS], COO and CFO Nick Hartley is preparing to retire from both roles as well as the board on December 31st.

TikTok

Ollie Wards, who’s been TikTok Australia and New Zealand’s music director since 2020, is departing the company and will be “open for business” in the new year.

Also stepping away after the better part of six years is EMEA music partnerships head Charlotte Stahl, who’s “looking forward to the next adventure!”

Finally, TalkShopLive has added as CEO Sandie Hawkins, previously TikTok’s US ecommerce GM.

She Is the Music

Former MusiCares executive director Laura Segura has come aboard She Is the Music in the same role.