Former Goldman Sachs & EMI Music Exec
to Spearhead Company's M&A
NEW
YORK, June 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Michael Ryan-Southern (MRS) is being appointed
by Warner Music Group (Nasdaq: WMG) to the newly created post of
Executive Vice President, Corporate Development, effective
August 5th. MRS, who comes to WMG
with two decades of investment, finance, and music industry
experience, most recently served as Global Head of Music & Live
Entertainment Investment Banking at Goldman Sachs.
MRS will lead all stages of M&A activity, working in
partnership with WMG's leaders and departments to identify and
acquire companies and catalogs that can enhance WMG's growth and
earnings. He will report to WMG CEO Robert
Kyncl and be based at the company's New York headquarters.
"The market is filled with opportunities, in both recorded music
and music publishing, and across different geographies," said
Kyncl. "We're bullish on the long-term value of music, and having
someone with Michael's domain expertise and wide-ranging network
run point on M&A will supercharge our efforts."
"This is an incredibly exciting time to be in the music
industry, and WMG's entrepreneurial spirit and tech-forward
approach make it a tremendously welcoming environment for both
artistic creativity and business innovation," said MRS. "I'm
excited by Robert and the team's vision for the company, and I'm
looking forward to working with him and the entire WMG team to help
grow and evolve the company into the future."
While at Goldman Sachs, MRS was the Head of Music & Live
Entertainment Investment Banking team leading several landmark
deals across the music & live entertainment industry. Prior to
joining Goldman in 2021, MRS spent eight years in senior leadership
positions among a number of Mubadala Capital and Mubadala
Investment Company portfolio companies including Deputy CFO at EMI
Music Publishing and President of the Hakkasan Group. MRS started
his career at KPMG in London and
later in New York where he spent
several years advising businesses on M&A and International Tax
& Treasury planning.
MRS was named to the 2024 Billboard Power 100 list in
Finance. He holds an MBA degree from Columbia
Business School which he obtained through their executive
program, a master's degree in tax law, and a bachelor's degree in
accounting and finance.
About Warner Music Group
Warner Music Group (WMG)
brings together artists, songwriters, entrepreneurs, and technology
that are moving entertainment culture across the globe. Operating
in more than 70 countries through a network of affiliates and
licensees, WMG's Recorded Music division includes renowned labels
such as 10K Projects, 300
Entertainment, Asylum, Atlantic, Big Beat, Elektra, Erato, First
Night, Fueled By Ramen, Nonesuch, Parlophone, Reprise, Rhino,
Roadrunner, Sire, Spinnin', Warner
Records, Warner Classics, and Warner Music Nashville. WMG's
music publishing arm, Warner Chappell
Music, has a catalog of over one million copyrights spanning
every musical genre, from the standards of the Great American
Songbook to the biggest hits of the 21st century. Warner Music
Group is also home to ADA, which supports the independent
community, as well as artist services division WMX. In addition,
WMG counts film and television storytelling powerhouse Warner Music
Entertainment among its many brands. Follow WMG on Instagram,
X, TikTok, LinkedIn, and Facebook.
Media Contact
James
Steven
James.Steven@wmg.com
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SOURCE Warner Music Group Corp.