EMI Australia’s John O’Donnell Set to Retire – Billboard

EMI Australia managing director John O’Donnell will retire later this yr, a transfer that triggers a shake-up within the senior administration staff for the label and its father or mother firm, Common Music.

The distinguished music govt will hand over the management with impact from Sept. 30, 2022, at which period he’ll be succeeded by Mark Holland, as managing director, EMI Data Australia.

Holland, who rises from GM of A&R at EMI, is joined on EMI’s senior management staff by Alicia Reynolds, who is called as GM, EMI Australia. Reynolds joined the label in 2014, and at present serves as EMI GM, advertising and media.

Holland and Reynolds are amongst a number of executives internally promoted to steer the UMA senior management staff, with Alisa Lai (head of business progress & innovation, UMA), Fiona Zamparutti (senior director, streaming, UMA), and Nicole Richards (co-managing director, Island Data Australia) amongst them.

Additionally, Yvette Cachia, is tapped as senior VP, individuals, inclusion & tradition, UMA. A professional barrister, Cachia joins from the New South Wales Division of Schooling, the place she served as chief individuals officer & deputy secretary.

O’Donnell steps apart after main the label for the previous 20 years, in two separate stints.

A former music journalist, O’Donnell helmed the music firm as CEO from 2002 till 2008, throughout which period he broke the likes of Missy Higgins, Jet, Empire of the Solar, and Angus & Julia Stone, all of whom gained “finest album” on the ARIA Awards.

He returned to the highest job in 2013, taking duties for the EMI, Capitol and Virgin labels, and overseeing the inventive path for the music firm’s roster of Australian artists.

O’Donnell obtained his break within the document enterprise with Sony Music Australia in 1994 as label supervisor of the newly-formed Murmur imprint. In his first week within the gig, he co-signed the teenage rock trio Silverchair.

In 2010, he returned to his roots when he co-authored the favored Hardie Grant ebook The 100 Finest Australian Albums.

“Having led this nice label for the previous twenty years, I couldn’t be prouder of all that we completed,” he explains in a press release. Now, “after two years working diligently in the direction of a succession plan to guide the label into a brand new period, I’m excited at hand the reins of EMI Australia over to Mark Holland and Alicia Reynolds.”

O’Donnell welcomes the incoming twin-track staff at EMI. Holland, he notes, is “a dynamic, next-generation govt with enormous success in A&R,” who will “lead the label right into a implausible new period.” Reynolds, he continues, is an “industry-respected govt that all the time motivates our artists and staff along with her ardour, perception and tenacity to succeed throughout each venture.”

In an inside message to UMA workers, seen by Billboard, Holland writes: “I’m so excited and humbled to be given the chance to guide EMI Music Australia. I’ve been working right here for the final 16 years and I’m extra motivated than ever to ship for our artists and keep the legacy of growing one of many strongest home rosters within the nation.”

Reynolds provides, “I’m equally thrilled for the chance to work carefully with Mark and our passionate staff to take EMI Music Australia into the subsequent superb section.” She pays particular due to O’Donnell for “his extraordinary rapport, dedication and love for artists has guided the label and fostered an unbelievable legacy.”

The modifications embody a promotion for Nicole Richards, who rises from GM to co-managing director at Island Data Australia. Richards joined UMA in 2012, following a six-year stint at EMI Australia & Virgin Data Australia.

The shakeup follows the exit of UMA’s joint managing director, Darren Aboud, first reported by The Music Community.

O’Donnell, says George Ash, president UMA Australia & New Zealand, “has been among the many nice Australian music leaders. He has all the time led with an artist and music-first strategy and has achieved unbelievable success over time.”

The altering of the guard at EMI Australia comes on the heels of Vanessa Picken’s appointment to guide Sony Music Australia and New Zealand, the primary time a feminine govt will lead the key music firm’s affiliate in these elements.

In a press launch, Ash notes “we’re at a pivotal second culturally, commercially and creatively within the Australian music {industry}.”

The management staff tasked with bringing UMA “into its subsequent chapter,” Ash continues, “are amongst essentially the most gifted executives with whom I’ve ever labored.”