Ruxandra Leaving Warner Music Group
• Oana Ruxandra, Warner Music Group Chief Digital Officer and EVP of Business Development, announced she is leaving the label. Ruxandra’s last day with the company is next Friday, Oct. 13. The news was initially reported by Billboard (subscription required) citing internal company emails.
In her departure memo, Ruxandra mentioned that Warner Music Group CEO Robert Kyncl had her replacement already lined up. “Robert and I have been discussing my role for a while now, and I’ve decided it’s time for a change, one where I explore even further my entrepreneurial spirit,” she said. “Look out for an announcement about my next move. I know Robert has plans for my successor and you’ll be hearing from him about that soon.”
Kyncl’s memo, also obtained by Billboard, reads, in part, “Oana’s been a key player in — and fierce advocate for — the evolution of both this company and the industry at large. She has not only helped us vault many challenges, but drive streaming revenue, while exploring and developing new paths and platforms that will maximize value for our talent, our team, and our company.”
This had been Ruxandra’s second tour of duty with WMG — she earlier spent four years with the label group, advancing to VP of Digital Strategy and Business Development. In 2016, she moved over to Universal Music Group for a two-year stint as SVP of Digital Strategy and Partnerships, before returning to WMG in late 2018 in the newly created position of EVP of New Business Channels / Chief Acquisitions Officer. She was elevated to her current dual role in April 2020.
Ruxandra’s memo continued, “I leave WMG knowing it’s well positioned for a bold, bright future: Not least with our core streaming partners and evolving social media platforms and fitness players; we’ve also been the first to forge innovative partnerships with a wide, diverse, and thriving network of gaming, Web3, and A.I. companies. The last decade has been a wonderful wild ride; we’re once again at the heart of seismic shifts and massive opportunities. I wholeheartedly believe that the future of our industry lies in the dynamic relationship between artist and fan, and the incredible explosion in creative and commercial possibilities created by that interplay.” [Photo from LinkedIn]
