Warner Music Names Val Blavatnik to Executive Team, Unveils Suite of Leadership Promotions

Warner Music Group announced a suite of leadership changes Friday morning that most notably has Val Blavatnik, son of the company’s majority shareholder Len Blavatnik, officially joining WMG’s executive team as managing director of North America, U.K. and corporate development.

Industry insiders had been anticipating the younger Blavatnik’s entry into the company for years, and speculation of his impending appointment had been growing louder over the past several months. As managing director, WMG said Blavatnik, who is also on WMG’s board of directors, would “unify and drive business and operational strategy across these markets while guiding the company’s investment strategy to support growth.”

Outside of Blavatnik’s new role, Atlantic Music Group CEO Elliot Grainge has also been named chairman of WMG’s distribution service ADA, and he is appointing Atlantic COO Zach Friedman as ADA’s vice chairman. With Warner Records COO Tom Corson recently being promoted to WMG COO, Aaron Bay-Schuck has been named sole chairman and CEO of Warner Records Group.

Warner Music Latin America President Alejandro Duque, who had previously been named president of ADA last year, has been elevated to President of Warner Music International, where he’ll now also oversee the APAC and EMEA regions. Warner Music Iberia exec Guillermo Gonzalez has been upped to president of Warner Music EMEA, with Andrés Rothschild succeeding him as president of Warner Music Iberia.

“To build upon our successful year in which we delivered on all three strategic priorities to grow market share, increase the value of music and increase our efficiency, these frontline executive changes enhance our best-in-class leadership team with diverse skill sets to execute on the next chapter of WMG’s growth,” WMG CEO Robert Kyncl said in a statement. “Elliot, Aaron, Alejandro and Guillermo are exceptional, dynamic and proven leaders who have transformed their domains, and elevating them allows us to further scale their success. I’m also excited to welcome Val to the executive team, where his operational and strategic focus will help us build our momentum across key markets.”

As part of the shakeup, WMG executive Simon Robson, who’s been at the company for nearly 30 years, will step down in December to “pursue new opportunities.”

“We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to Simon Robson for his dedicated service, operational excellence and trusted leadership while expanding WMG’s global footprint over his remarkable tenure, and wish him the very best in his next endeavors,” Kyncl said.

The wide swath of executive moves is just the latest in a particularly notable c-suite shakeup at WMG over the past several years. Former WMG CFO Armin Zerza confirmed he’d be departing from the company in July, with his eventual successor set to become the company’s fourth CFO since 2023. Meanwhile, earlier this week, WMG had announced that Warner Chappell COO and co-chair Carianne Marshall was departing as well, with Guy Moot set to become the publisher’s sole chairman.