BMI Presents: Quartet Of Promotions
• BMI announced promotions within the company’s Creative and Corporate Communications departments based in its New York City HQ — On the Creative team, John Ellwood is promoted to Vice President, Creative, and Deirdre Chadwick is upped to Asst. Vice President, Creative, Classical & Jazz. In Corporate Communications, Jeff Gilligan is elevated to Asst. Vice President, Creative Director, and Jodie Thomas is promoted to Asst. Vice President, Corporate & Media Relations. Pictured, (l-r): Ellwood, Chadwick, Gilligan, & Thomas.
Ellwood brings nearly 20 years of experience into this expanded operational leadership role that bridges music, law, and technology. Since joining BMI in 2007, Ellwood has held various roles in the company’s legal department, including AVP, Legal, before moving to the Creative team in 2022 as AVP, Strategy & Business Affairs. He will continue to report to Rafael Martinez, BMI VP, Strategy & Business Affairs, Creative.
In her expanded role, Chadwick continues to oversee BMI’s Classical department and now leads all Jazz initiatives. Chadwick also directs the BMI Composer Awards and oversees the BMI Jazz Composers Workshop and has served as the President of the BMI Foundation since 2014. Chadwick will continue to report to Barbara Cane, BMI VP, Worldwide Creative.
Gilligan joined BMI in 2019 and leads design and advertising efforts company-wide, overseeing corporate initiatives, ad campaigns and marquee events ensuring a cohesive brand presence across social media, digital platforms, BMI.com, and physical branded materials.
Gilligan and his team’s work spans major company initiatives including BMI award shows, high-profile activations like BMI’s “Your Music Moves Our World” ad campaign and stages at Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits, and SXSW, as well as BMI signature events like BMI’s Rooftop on the Row, Ryman/BMI Block Party, the BMI Acoustic Lounge series, and other live experiences.
Thomas has served as Executive Director, Corporate Communications and Media Relations since joining BMI in 2015. She leads media relations teams in Los Angeles and New York, directing PR efforts across Pop/Indie, Hip-Hop and R&B, Broadway, Jazz, Latin, and Film, TV & Visual Media. Her team’s work supports major BMI events, including award shows, BMI-branded festival stages at ACL, Lollapalooza, and SXSW, showcases and more. She also spearheads BMI’s Speakers Bureau.
Gilligan and Thomas report to Liz Fischer, BMI SVP, Chief Communications & Marketing Officer.
