April 17, 2008

By By Chris M. Walsh, N.Y.

As part of the ongoing restructuring of EMI Music, EMI executive chairman Guy Hands has replaced the company's Music Management Board with two new EMI Music Boards: the Chairman's Board and the Operating Board.

The Chairman's will focus on developing long-term strategy and be run by Hands. The Operating Board will deal with all day-to-day business decisions and be chaired by Chris Roling, the newly appointed president and COO of EMI Music. Roling has been working as CFO of EMI Music and COO of the international labels since January.

In an e-mail to the EMI staff, Hands unveiled a number of new roles as well. Chris Kennedy has been promoted to the global role of CFO of EMI Music; Mike Clasper becomes deputy chairman of the Operating Board; Roger Ames will now work with Hands and Terra Firma on strategic acquisitions; Ashley Unwin will become head of North American and U.K. A&R until Nick Gatfield joins the company; Mark Hodgkinson is president of business development; and Sam van der Feltz becomes president of global marketing.

In January, details of the company's restructuring were announced, including the layoff of 2,000 employees and the breaking down of label walls into three groups: an A&R group; a global music services group comprised of operations, sales and marketing; and a support services group comprised of finance, human resources and other back office functions. The restructuring is expected to be implemented by June.

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