Virgin Reveals New Global Leadership Team
• Virgin Music Group (VMG) announced its new global and regional leadership team, bringing together senior executives from both Virgin Music Group and Downtown, following the completion of VMG’s acquisition of Downtown Music earlier this year. Jacqueline Saturn, Nick Roden, Tom Allen, Christiaan Kröner and David Driessen will assume key expanded roles in new organization.
Virgin Music Group is organized into six key regions, with regional leaders reporting to VMG Co-CEO’s JT Myers and Nat Pastor. In their respective markets, VMG’s regional and country leaders have oversight of FUGA and Downtown Artist & Label Services’ local functions, with Downtown executives taking key positions:
North America is led by Jacqueline Saturn as President, North America & EVP Global Artist Relations, and Sarah Landy is appointed SVP, Business Development, North America, reporting to Saturn.
LATAM is led by Victor González as President, LATAM, U.S. Latin & Spain • Brazil and Portugal are led by Cris Falcao as President, and Renato Vanzella is appointed Managing Director, Brazil, reporting to Falcao.
Europe is led by Nick Roden as President, Europe. Liz Northeast is appointed as SVP & General Manager, Europe, reporting to Roden • Asia, Middle East, Africa are led by Michael Roe as Managing Director, AMEA, and Australia & New Zealand are led by Nathan McLay as Managing Director.
Jeremy Kramer continues as EVP, Global Marketing, and Zack Gershen continues as EVP, Global Commercial & Digital Strategy, both reporting to Myers and Pastor.
The following executives report to Virgin Music Group COO Pieter Van Rijn: Tom Allen is named Chief Technology Officer, VMG • Christiaan Kröner is named EVP, Global Operations, VMG • Molly Neumancontinues as President, CD Baby • Emily Stephenson continues as President, Downtown Music Publishing • David Driessen is named Chief Product Officer, VMG • Matt Sawin is named EVP, Physical & Direct-to-Fan Growth, VMG • Gareth Mellor is named as SVP, Communications & Brand Strategy, VMG
Former Downtown Artist & Label Services President Ben Patterson will lead a new premier artist-focused enterprise in collaboration with Virgin Music Group.
Nat Pastor, Co-CEO, Virgin Music Group commented, “Virgin Music Group and Downtown have each built their reputations by super-serving the independent community and empowering local teams. This combined structure will help grow those strengths, continuing to innovate while deepening the entrepreneurial culture and trusted relationships that will define our future.”
JT Myers, Co CEO, Virgin Music Group remarked, “Our ambition is to keep expanding what’s possible for the independent music community. That means offering each artist, entrepreneur, label, and rightsholder access to broader capabilities and a more connected global network, while remaining flexible enough to meet them wherever they are in their journey.”
Pieter van Rijn, COO, Virgin Music Group said, “We’ve brought together an exceptional group of leaders with a shared belief: artists and entrepreneurs deserve the strongest possible partner. Through the skills and technology of the combined organization, we will give more great music the chance to break through and more creative businesses the platform to thrive.”
