Warner Music yesterday announced the promotion of Mike Jbara to the role of President and CEO of WEA, the major's US-based sales and retail arm. He succeeds John Esposito, who has in turn been named President of a new Warner division, Warner Nashville.
Jbara will oversee all of WEA's day-to-day operations, reporting to Warner SVP Roger Gold, who said of Jbara's promotion: "Over the years Mike has proven himself not only as an effective operator but also an innovator who understands new business models and who has played a key leadership role in defining those models and applying the new technologies that make them possible. To have a chief executive who understands the rapidly changing role of a music company in today's environment is a terrific asset for WEA and we are happy to have Mike here to lead the company going forward".