Nearly a year after the dismissal of chairman and CEO Denis Handlin, record industry giant Sony Music has announced his replacement.
Vanessa Picken, who worked for the rival record label EMI in Australia a decade ago and now directs the independent record label. [PIAS] in Los Angeles, he will return home to lead Sony’s operations in Australia and New Zealand.
Vanessa Picken has been named the new President and CEO of Sony Music Australia.
“I look forward to returning home to join Sony Music Australia and New Zealand to take the company to the next transformative chapter. Our strategies will focus on music, alliance and innovation, with a global mindset.” , Picken said in a statement.
“Sony Music has a recognized reputation for empowering its artists and creators, breaking down traditional barriers to put them at the center of everything it does. We reaffirm our commitment to discovering and developing new and emerging talent in both countries. , as well as expanding the commercial and creative opportunities for our list of artists locally and internationally. “
Picken’s appointment follows a tumultuous 18 months for Sony in Australia during which a toxic workplace culture was exposed, which ended with Handlin’s dismissal on June 21 last year.
This was followed by the departure of at least three other top executives of the company, including Handlin’s son Pat, head of corporate and legal affairs Mark Stebnicki and head of Australian artist marketing Wayne Ringrow. The company’s head of commercial music, Tony Glover, was fired in April after complaints were made about him.
Denis Handlin left Sony Music almost a year ago. Credit: Sasha Woolley
The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age do not suggest that Handlins, Stebnicki or Ringrow were directly involved in any crime.
Sony’s Australian arm has been without local leadership since Handlin’s departure, with the U.S. headquarters overseeing operations.