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Warner Music UK chief to stand down

By | Published on Monday 30 September 2013

Christian Tattersfield

Warner Music UK boss Christian Tattersfield will step down next February, it’s been confirmed, with his successor – Atlantic Records UK chief Max Lousada – becoming co-CEO of the British division with immediate effect.

As of next February Lousada will become sole CEO of Warner Music UK, as well as continuing in his role of Chairman of Atlantic UK, reporting directly into overall Warner Music chief Stephen Cooper. The boss of Warner’s other main UK division, the recently combined Parlophone and Warner Bros, Miles Leonard, will then report into Lousada. He will also become sole Chairman of the Warner Bros side of his unit, a job he currently shares with Tattersfield.

Confirming all this, the aforementioned Cooper told CMU: “Christian’s tenure as leader of Warner Music UK has been an extremely impressive one. As well as guiding the company through on-going commercial success, he has fostered a culture of excellence in artist development that will continue to shape our future. We are extremely grateful for his contribution and for his continued support as we enter this transitional phase ahead of his departure. We’ll always consider Christian a part of the Warner Music family and look forward to collaborating with him on future projects”.

On his new UK chief, Cooper continued: “Max’s achievements at Atlantic UK have been remarkable. Artists that have emerged under his stewardship are among the most successful British acts in recent years, not only in the local market but on the world stage. Max is a natural successor to Christian and, in Miles and the rest of the senior UK team, he will have extremely strong support when he takes the role. His appointment ensures stability and continuity during the handover period and leaves us well positioned for growth in this important and influential market”.

Indicating that he plans to launch his own new music venture once outside the major label system, Tattersfield said of his departure: “With [Warner Music UK] in such great shape and its future in such good hands, the time is right for me to focus on the kind of entrepreneurial projects that I have pursued since I started out in the industry. My time as the CEO of Warner Music UK has allowed me to work with some of the best artists and executives in the business, not least Max, who I am confident will continue to lead with the same creative energy that has made Atlantic UK such an A&R powerhouse”.

Last April, Tattersfield also took on the job of Chair of the BRITs organising committee, a job usually held by a British major label chief for two or three years, before handing on the role to a counterpart at another major record company. It’s not clear if Tattersfield will step down from that role too after departing Warner, though his exit date from the major conveniently comes just after the next BRIT Awards event.



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