Okada Named Pres./CEO, Warner Music Japan

• Takeshi Okada has been appointed as the new President & CEO of Warner Music Japan, effective Dec. 2. He will work through a leadership transition period with outgoing President & CEO Kaz Kobayashi, who last month announced that he would be stepping down. They will both be supported by Dr. Kenji Kitatani, the recently appointed Chairman of Warner Music Japan. Okada will report to Simon Robson, who is overseeing WMG’s recorded business in the APAC region until a permanent appointee is announced.

Okada joins Warner Music after serving as Managing Director of EMI Records Japan, a Universal Music Group label, since 2018. Prior to that, he spent more than a decade at Universal Music Japan, playing a pivotal role in its digital marketing efforts and significantly contributing to its hit-making ability in the streaming era.

Okada said, “I’m excited to take on the leadership of Warner Music Japan at such a pivotal time in its evolution, and it’s an honor to succeed Kaz Kobayashi, who was known throughout the industry as an artists’ champion. We have hugely ambitious growth plans in this fast-changing market and I’m dedicated to driving Warner Music Japan’s evolution, ensuring it consistently grows and prospers.”

Robson remarked, “It’s great news that the highly respected Takeshi Okada has agreed to run our business in Japan as we accelerate our growth plans in the world’s second largest music market. I know that Kaz and Kenji will work with him to ensure a smooth leadership transition. These appointments show we are serious about expanding our operations in this vitality important market.”