On The Move: Andrew Jenkins Departing Universal Music Publishing; Seb Permal Jumps to Warner Music Central Europe

Each week, NIF & ROSTR tracks all the industry moves you need to know about. Promotions, hirings, farewells — have one you want to share? Click here.

Andrew Jenkins is stepping down as President of the Asia Pacific Region at Universal Music Publishing Group after nearly two decades with the company. Over the years he worked with the Bee Gees, The Cure, Alanis Morissette, Tom Waits, and others, and served as Chair of the International Confederation of Music Publishers.

Jean-Sebastien Permal is leaving Sony Music to join Warner Music as SVP of A&R, EMEA and Central Europe. He will oversee all frontline A&R operations across Germany, Switzerland, Austria, the Netherlands, and Belgium. He brings a proven background in artist development and cross-cultural partnerships, with credits including Amelie Lens, Dystinct, and Purple Disco Machine, as well as the founding of electronic label Noted Records.

Jeff Stempeck joins Stem as VP of A&R and Label Partnerships, coming from TikTok's SoundOn platform where he spent three years signing and developing independent artists. Before that he held roles at The Orchard and Spotify, bringing 15+ years of experience across distribution and music tech.

Other notable moves…

• Julie Swidler is exiting Sony Music after 18 years as EVP of Business Affairs and General Counsel. She's leaving at the end of June to launch her own advisory practice.

• Alison Junker and Chris Allen are both promoted to VP of Artist & Label Relations at Stem. Junker covers country and Americana; Allen handles rock and alternative.

• Jay Moore is named Chief Investment Officer at Too Lost, arriving from VP, Head of Investments at Position Music.

• Ollie Fitzgerald joins WME as Executive, Music for Visual Media, based in London, reporting to Bradley Rainey.

• Emma Robinson is promoted to VP of Partnerships at Merlin, where she's been since 2018, overseeing global digital partner relationships across DSPs, social platforms and AI-driven services.

• Grace Watson steps up to VP of Commercial Partnerships & Digital at Black River Entertainment, where she's worked for three years.

• Richa Goswami joins the Pophouse Entertainment Board of Directors, bringing 25+ years in brand-building at HSBC, Fidelity International and Johnson & Johnson Consumer Health.

• Melanie Cameron joins Sound Royalties as Regional Dir. of Business Development for the UK, as the music financing company continues its international expansion.

• Basile Beaugendre moves up to Regional Head of TuneCore, Europe, while Cyrus Chen takes Regional Head of TuneCore, APAC. Both report to Brian Miller.

• Ann Sowell joins Quartz Hill Music Group as Associate Publicist, reporting to VP Natalie Kilgore. She previously interned at McNeely Brockman PR and FINN Partners.

• Jeremy Gruber joins Blue Note Entertainment Group as Dir. of Marketing at the new Blue Note LA, coming from Friends at Work.

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