Universal Music this week announced that John O’Donnell would become MD of its EMI division in Australia. O’Donnell previously headed up EMI Australia from 2002 to 2008, and returns to the major following the departure of his successor Mark Poston, who announced last month that he was to depart EMI following its acquisition by the Universal Music Group.
In his new job O’Donnell will oversee most of the old EMI assets within a division of Universal, which includes the EMI, Capitol and Virgin labels in Australia, reporting into George Ash, President of Universal Music Australasia.
Confirming the appointment, Max Hole, CEO of Universal Music Group International, told reporters: “Everyone who has ever worked with John knows that he is synonymous with great artists and great music. Developing and investing further in our Australian artists is a key international goal for us. I’m thrilled that John has agreed to return to EMI to play such a crucial role”.
Elsewhere in post-EMI acquisition rejigs at Universal, this time in the US, and Mike Harris, previously CFO for the Blue Note imprint and a key player at EMI Label Services, has been appointed as Exec VP and GM of Caroline, EMI’s indie label distribution business in America, which is now part of Universal’s US-based Capitol Music Group, the new division that includes most of EMI’s former American operations.
He will work alongside newly appointed Caroline President Dominic Pandiscia who said: “Mike’s leadership of EMI’s Label Services unit since 2010, and his knowledge of the independent sector of the music business makes him all the more valuable as we design and execute our plans for Caroline’s growth”.