Shimada New COO, Warner Music Japan

• Warner Music Japan has named veteran media executive Kazuhiro Shimada as Chief Operating Officer.

Shimada brings over 15 years of music industry, digital and business development experience to the role, most recently as Director & General Manager of Amazon Music Japan. He previously served as Corporate Executive of Universal Music Japan, and Vice President, Strategy of MTV Networks Japan.

In his new role, the Tokyo-based Shimada will be responsible for the company’s daily business operations, including leading key initiatives, as well as implementing organizational-wide strategies and policies. He will report to Kaz Kobayashi, CEO of Warner Music Japan, who remarked, “Kazuhiro is an outstanding exec who has a proven track record in the entertainment sector, and an extensive understanding of the Japanese music industry. We’re very pleased to have him come onboard. With his unique expertise and broad network, Kazuhiro will play a significant role in accelerating our growth in Japan. He’s a fantastic addition to our senior leadership team and I look forward to working with him to support our artists and helping them amplify their voices.”

Shimada said, “Warner Music is highly influential in Japan and has an incredible reputation in the entertainment industry for its artist-first approach, focusing particularly on building long-term careers. I’m excited to join Kaz and his team and can’t wait to lead Warner Music Japan into the next level.”