BMG tunes up exex
New topper Schmidt-Holtz bows appointments
Robert Jamieson, head of RCA Music Group, was named BMG prexy-CEO, North America, overseeing RCA, Arista Records, BMG Distribution and BMG Canada. His successor at the helm of RCA, whose acts include Christina Aguilera and the Dave Matthews Band, will be announced shortly.
Richard Griffiths, chairman of BMG U.K. and Ireland and prexy of BMG Central Europe, will become overall prexy for the U.K. and Europe. He will now oversee the lucrative GSA regions (Germany, Switzerland and Austria) plus Eastern Europe, along with all other European business units.
Thomas Stein, prexy of BMG's GSA-Eastern Europe region, was named exec VP for worldwide marketing and A&R.
Konrad Hilbers, former chief operating officer of AOL/Bertelsmann Europe, becomes BMG's exec VP and chief administrative officer, responsible for legal and business affairs, finance, new technology and strategic development.
Joseph Gorman returns to BMG as VP and chief financial officer. He had been VP of finance and administration but left last June.
From Harvard to tech
Lastly, David Kang, a Harvard Business School professor and consultant for music artists management group the Firm, will be senior VP, new technology and strategic development.
BMG said its Asia Pacific and Latin regions and BMG Publishing will continue under current management.
Appointments are effective immediately, and all execs report to Schmidt-Holz.
BMG management was thrown into disarray starting last November, when chairman Michael Dornemann and CEO Strauss Zelnick resigned. BMG's former international chief Rudi Gassner was tapped to succeed Zelnick but died just before Christmas. Schmidt-Holtz replaced Gassner.
BMG also lost its worldwide marketing head Kevin Conroy and CFO Tom McIntyre earlier this month. Last week, Conroy joined America Online to head up its new AOL Music division.
