Three Top Execs Out At EMI

Big Changes

Restructuring at EMI GROUP LTD. has led to the departure of three senior executives. BUSINESS WEEK reports that EMI MUSIC COO RONN WERRE, New Music International Pres. BILLY MANN, and New Music/NORTH AMERICA, U.K. and IRELAND Pres. NICK GATFIELD are out.

In a memo to staffers, CEO ROGER FAXON said EMI must change to an artists’ rights-management business from a product-centric company that sells CDs. "We are forming a small and lean organization, directly reporting to us, designed to continuously refine and build upon the distinctive strategy of each business," he wrote.

FAXON will oversee NORTH AMERICAN operations with Group COO LEO CORBETT and EMI MUSIC COO COLIN FINKELSTEIN. Elsewhere, DAVID KASSLER will oversee operations in EUROPE, THE U.K., ASIA, AFRICA, AUSTRALIA, JAPAN and the MIDDLE EAST. LATIN AMERICA will be run by NESTOR CASON with JUAN MANUEL GARCIA as operating chief.

SHANE NAUGHTON will head up the firm's finance unit; MARK PIIBE will oversee digital new business and CARYN TOMLINSON will head artist relations.

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