Former Warner Music Group boss Roger Ames formally confirmed he is breaking his ties with the major on Friday. There has been much speculation over Ames' future at Warner Music ever since it was bought off Time Warner by Edgar Bronfman Jnr last year.
When Bronfman appointed Lyor Cohen as head of Warner Music in the US there was speculation Ames might get an international post in the new company. But as time went on and Ames moved into a consultancy role it became clear the former chairman was preparing to leave the company.
In an internal memo issued on Friday, Bronfman confirmed Ames' departure adding: "Roger has been a superb leader navigating the company deftly and with sound judgment through some of the most challenging times our industry has faced. Through his efforts to revitalize our international and domestic operations, Warner Music has become a recognized global force in the industry. Perhaps most significantly, Roger has positioned WMG as one of the most progressive, forward-thinking music companies in the business".
Rumour has it that Sony BMG boss Andrew Lack is keen to recruit Ames for an international post, with the possibility of preparing Ames to take over the running of the recently merged major if and when Lack himself moves up the Sony hierarchy.