Virgin U.S. taps Rob Stevenson

Former Def Jam exec takes over as president

By PHIL GALLO

Stevenson

Rob Stevenson, who signed a number of successful rock bands during his years as exec veep of A&R at Universal's Island Def Jam, will take over as president at Virgin U.S. in August.

Among the acts at Island Def Jam that Stevenson is credited with signing are Fall Out Boy, the Killers, the Bravery, Sum 41, Lady Sovereign, Saliva and Thrice. He was also president of Stolen Transmission, his joint venture label with Island Def Jam Music Group.

Before that, he held a variety of senior A&R positions at Universal Music Group, including VP of A&R at Island from 2002-06, following two years as director in the department. He joined UMG's Mercury Records as an A&R manager in 1998.

Stevenson was among the execs laid off at Universal Music late last year. UMG also severed ties with Stolen Transmission.

Stevenson will report to Nick Gatfield, EMI Music's new president, A&R, North America, U.K. & Ireland. Stevenson will be based in New York and start Aug. 15.

Having made his first significant hire since taking the job, Gatfield will now look to hire comparable positions at Capitol in the U.S. and Virgin in the U.K. Jason Flom, who had been elevated to chairman-CEO of the Capitol Music Group prior to the EMI reorganization, continues to be employed by EMI but is no longer in the chain of command.