UK Music appoints Jamie Njoku-Goodwin as new Chief Executive

14 September 2020 - Press release

UK Music, the collective voice of the UK music industry, has announced Jamie Njoku-Goodwin will be its new chief executive. 

Jamie is one of the Government’s most senior advisers with unrivalled political connections across Downing Street, Whitehall and Westminster. 

He was a special adviser to Health Secretary Matt Hancock and also worked as a special adviser at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. 

Jamie was appointed by the Board of UK Music - the body that represents the UK music industry - after an extensive recruitment process which attracted more than 200 applicants. 

A keen musician, Jamie will take up his role as UK Music CEO in October, succeeding Michael Dugher who stood down in January. 

Tom Kiehl, who has been Acting CEO since February continues as Deputy CEO and Director of Public Affairs. 

Welcoming the appointment, UK Music Chair Tom Watson said: 

"On behalf of all my colleagues on the UK Music Board, I’m delighted to welcome Jamie Njoku-Goodwin to the team. 

“Jamie is a first-class appointment and brings renewed leadership to UK Music at a vital time for the industry. 

“His experience of working at the heart of Government will be invaluable to the industry as we make the case to ministers that our sector needs further support as we return to being a net contributor to the country’s economy. 

“Jamie is well known to our members as he has always been a passionate supporter of music, both in his professional roles in Government, particularly whilst at the Department for Digital, Media and Sport and also as a musician himself. 

“I’m sure that he will build on all the fantastic work of our former CEO Michael Dugher and Tom Kiehl who has been our acting CEO since February.” 

Jamie Njoku-Goodwin said: 

"Be it through the £5.2 billion it generates for the economy, the 190,000 jobs it sustains across our country, or the symbol of British exceptionalism it broadcasts around the world, the music industry is one of our most important national assets - and something we should all be hugely proud of. 

"UK Music has a vital role in fighting for the interests of the music industry, and I am delighted to be taking the helm of the organisation at such an important time. 

"There are big challenges facing commercial music, like the impact of coronavirus, the importance of copyright, and the need for more action on diversity and inclusion. But for all the challenges, there are also huge opportunities - and I am confident that with the right support, the music industry can be the British success story of the 2020s. 

“I would like to thank the previous CEO Michael Dugher and Tom Kiehl for all their great work in making UK Music the force that it is. 

"I look forward to working closely with the Government, music makers and music lovers to support the music industry and capitalise upon the huge potential that it offers to the UK."