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Universal UK appoints new COO
By CMU Editorial | Published on Monday 23 January 2012
Universal Music UK has announced the promotion of David Sharpe, currently SVP of the major’s Island Records division, to the group wide job of COO. In the new role, Sharpe will work with Universal UK top man David Joseph, overseeing all of the firm’s UK operations, and looking for “new commercial opportunities”.
The latter role will capitalise on Sharpe’s experience at Island of working with the label’s artists on non-recordings based ventures, such as direct-to-fan merchandise stores, ticketing deals and Tinchy Stryder’s Star In The Hood clothing business.
Confirming the appointment, Joseph told CMU: “David has time and again demonstrated his entrepreneurial approach, which will be of huge benefit to our artists, labels and all aspects of our company in his new role”.
Meanwhile Sharpe himself added: “I am delighted to be taking on this role and to be working more closely with David. These are very exciting and challenging times in the music industry and I’m looking forward to helping to grow Universal Music’s business”.
Universal UK also announced that the company’s CFO David Bryant was leaving the firm. Presumably three Davids at the top would be just too confusing. Joseph said of Bryant: “I’d like to thank David who has been so integral to the business and for the huge contribution he has made in his seventeen years as part of the senior team at Universal Music”.
