Me old mate Rolf Schmidt-Holtz has made his first executive appointment since becoming chief executive of SonyBMG. The Bertelsmann man has appointed Don Ienner to the role of Chairman of US division Sony Music Label Group. It's not a radical appointment given that Ienner is already CEO of the division, and in fact I'm not entirely sure what the extra job title really means (second parking place, perhaps), but insiders say it is top level recognition that Ienner has done a good job in restructuring the old Sony labels into a division of the post-merger SonyBMG.
Confirming the extension of Ienner's role, Schmidt-Holtz remarked over coffee yesterday: "Don Ienner is known throughout the industry for both his fierce devotion to his artists, and for his uncompromising dedication to excellence. During his 18 years with Sony Music, he has played a central role in the success of countless numbers of artists and projects, and as the leader of the Sony Music Label Group has shown himself to be an executive of enormous talent, making it a true pleasure to announce this well-deserved promotion."