WMG Taps Lynton As Non-Exec Chairman
• Warner Music Group Corp. (WMG) announced that Michael Lynton has been elected non-executive Chairman of the Board. Lynton is currently Chairman of Snap, Inc. and was previously CEO of Sony Entertainment. The WMG Board of Directors now numbers 11, including the 2017 additions of international economist Noreena Hertz and WMG CEO of Global Recorded Music Max Lousada.
Len Blavatnik, Chairman & Founder of WMG parent Access Industries, said, “Michael’s accomplished career across music, film, TV, publishing, and social media brings a valuable perspective to the WMG Board. He joins a group of experienced advisors who together will help chart the future of the company.” WMG CEO Steve Cooper commented, “Michael’s global expertise will make him a tremendous asset as we explore new business opportunities and pioneer a new definition of what a music company can achieve. I’m looking forward to working with him and the entire Board to continue the company’s evolution.”
Lynton noted, “I’m honored to be joining the WMG Board at this transformational time in the music and entertainment world. WMG has a reputation as an agile, independent-minded, and artist-friendly company, and it will be a pleasure to work with Len, Steve and the rest of my new colleagues on the Board.”
Lynton began his media career in 1987, when he joined the Walt Disney Company and launched Disney Publishing. From 1992 to 1996, he served as President of Disney’s Hollywood Pictures. In 1996, he was named Chairman & CEO of Pearson plc’s Penguin Group. Four years later, he joined Time Warner as CEO of AOL Europe, President of AOL International and President of Time Warner International. In 2004, Lynton was named Chairman & CEO of Sony Pictures Entertainment, and in 2012 became CEO of Sony Entertainment Inc., adding Sony Music Entertainment and Sony/ATV Music Publishing to his responsibilities. In 2017, he left Sony to become Chairman of Snap Inc., creators of the Snapchat mobile app.
