On The Move: Virgin Music Group Unveils Post-Acquisition Leadership, Cesar Gueikian Steps Down at Gibson

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.

Virgin Music Group has unveiled its post-acquisition leadership structure following the completion of its Downtown Music deal, organizing into six global regions under co-CEOs JT Myers and Nat Pastor. Jacqueline Saturn takes North America and global artist relations, with regional presidents Victor González (LATAM), Nick Roden (Europe), Michael Roe (AMEA) and Nathan McLay (Australia & New Zealand) rounding out the map. COO Pieter van Rijn oversees a newly named global technology and product team, including incoming CTO Tom Allen and Chief Product Officer David Driessen. Former Downtown ALS president Ben Patterson will helm a new artist-focused venture in partnership with VMG.

Gibson is preparing for a leadership change: President and CEO Cesar Gueikian exits July 31 after a tenure credited with refocusing the iconic brand on quality and artist relationships. CCO Anne Rohosy — a Gibson veteran since 2021 with a background at Nike and Levi Strauss — steps in as Interim President and CEO while the Board searches for a permanent successor. Gueikian will remain close to the company as a Board advisor and global artist ambassador.

SoundExchange has tapped Michele Page as its new General Counsel. She arrives from Peloton, where she managed legal across music and content, and her résumé spans Nielsen, Vevo, EMI Music Publishing and Sony Music.

The Country Music Association made ten moves in one announcement. Emily Arvanitis, Kayleigh Bentley, Amanda Jilek, Maddie Myers and Nora Webb were all promoted into senior roles across events, member experience, creative, digital and business affairs. Five new hires — Samantha Alenius, Britney Buckwalter, Tarah Duarte, Alec Staniul and Craig Weaver — join across accounting, media, partnerships, insights and CRM.

Opry Entertainment Group has hired Stacey Cato as Senior Manager, Artist Relations. He brings 25-plus years across music, TV and digital, most recently at Paramount/ViacomCBS where he oversaw talent programming for CMT's biggest franchises.

Elsewhere in the industry…

• TKO Artist Management promoted Megan Pavlovic and Jordan Bernal to Artist Manager, both working with country acts including Jamey Johnson, and Ben Sojka to Manager, Publishing & Internal Operations.

• Kate London joins Jay Siegan Presents as attorney, client and procurement relations in Los Angeles, coming from Warner Records, Global Music Rights and Interscope.

• Sweat It Out and Central Station Records grew their team to 15, promoting Evie Preston to Head of Marketing & Communications, Matt Nugent to COO & A&R, and Ben Miller to A&R & Club Promotions Manager, alongside seven new hires.

• The Orchard expanded KGV Kiran Kumar's role to Managing Director, India & Middle East, adding the region to the South Asian territory he has led since 2021.

• Soundmouse has named David McIninch as General Manager. The BMI-owned cue sheet platform brings in the former Transit Technologies CRO, who has two decades of tech and finance experience.

• Frontiers Label Group promoted Leo Nicholas to MD, UK; Aldo Lonobile to VP, Global A&R; and Martina Palermo to Global Head of PR.

• Candace Braude, formerly of FUGA and Mexican Summer, joins Green Tea Distribution as Artist Onboarding & Success Manager.

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