Warner Music Japan has appointed a longtime Universal executive Takeshi Okada as the company's new president and CEO, effective December 2. It will refer to Simon Robsonpresident of international recorded music, who is temporarily overseeing WMG's APAC recorded business until a permanent appointee is announced.
Okada joins from EMI Records Japan, part of UMG, where he served as CEO since 2018. Under his leadership, EMI Records has enjoyed notable success with artists such as Yumi Matsutoya and Mrs. GREEN APPLE. Prior to EMI, Okada spent over a decade at Universal Music Japan, where he played a critical role in digital marketing and fostering the label's embrace of streaming in physical media-loving Japan.
Okada will transition into his new role with the support of the outgoing president and CEO Kaz Kobayashiwho announced his retirement last month after a decade at the top. Dr. Kenji Kitatanithe newly appointed president of WMJ, will also play a supporting role.
“It's great news that the highly respected Takeshi Okada has agreed to lead our business in Japan as we accelerate our growth plans in the world's second largest music market,” noted Robson. “Kaz and Kenji will work with him to ensure a smooth leadership transition. These appointments demonstrate our commitment to expanding our operations in this vital market.”
The leadership change at WMJ comes amid other high-level changes at Warner, including the recent promotions of its chief marketing officer Eric Wong head of A&R, recorded music and Evp of global marketing Jessica Keeley-Carter in CMO, recorded music. As part of a sweeping summer of change, WMG's CEO of Recorded Music Max Lusanda left the company and Eliot Grange has been named as the new CEO of Atlantic Music Group, while the CEO of WMG Robert Kyncl assumed direct supervision of the heads of the global distribution company ADA and the merchandise division WMX. longtime leader of the Atlantic Julie Greenwald300 Elektra Entertainment chairman/CEO Kevin Lyles and a number of senior executives from Atlantic and Elektra also left the company, among other moves.
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/pro/takeshi-okada-president-ceo-warner-music-japan/
