Sony Music Announce Mark Collen As SVP International Operations

14 February 2013

LONDON – 15/2/2013 - Nick Gatfield, Chairman & CEO Sony Music UK has today announced the appointment of Mark Collen as SVP International Operations.

He will now lead the UK International team and report directly to Gatfield. The role will see him redefining and developing Sony Music UK’s international organisation as the company looks to build on recent global successes from UK artists.

Former VP International Dave Shack will be leaving the company.

Nick Gatfield says: “ Our key strategic initiative is to sign and develop the best new artists and break them globally and it is essential that we have a proactive, tenacious & ambitious International team to spearhead this challenge and deliver best-in-class service to our artists.”

“2012 saw incredible global success for One Direction, Olly Murs and Paloma Faith and we’ve had an excellent response to our new and developing roster of artists such as Tom Odell, Laura Mvula, Kodaline & Peace to name just a few. Mark is the ideal executive to continue and build on this success. He played a pivotal role in driving the global One Direction phenomenon and his all round knowledge of the international market place is second to none. I firmly believe Mark has the experience and tenacity to drive our international breakthrough strategy and deliver success for the UK business worldwide. It is with great pleasure I welcome him to the role.”

“I also want to thank Dave Shack for all he has contributed to the company over many years and wish him well for the future.”

Mark Collen says: “It's a privilege to be asked to lead the international strategy for the next generation of Sony UK's artists – we have an exciting and diverse roster that we feel can reach audiences and fans on a global basis. It's essential we provide the very best international organisation to meet the demands and needs of our artists, managers and partners worldwide and that's exactly what we intend to do.”

Collen joined Sony Music in June 2012 as Global Marketing consultant for One Direction. He is a vastly experienced music executive, having served in a number of senior roles at EMI Music, including as SVP Global Marketing for Capitol Music where he drove global strategy for key artists including Norah Jones, Kylie and Coldplay. He became SVP EMI Music UK & Ireland in 2005, creating the Angel Music Group. In this business development role he was responsible for repositioning the EMI Classics business in the UK, signing artists such as Alfie Boe and Natasha Marsh and launching new imprint Charisma – Signing Alphabeat and Tom Baxter and enjoying success with artists such as David Guetta, Keith Urban, Hilary Duff and Simon Webb. He also managed key strategic relationships for the company, in particular with Disney’s music division.

He was previously Managing Director of Chrysalis Records – merging it with EMI Records to form EMI: Chrysalis where, in addition to signing Starsailor and bringing artists such as Doves and Beth Orton to the company he helped guide the careers of and manage superstar brands such as Robbie Williams, Geri Halliwell, Fun Lovin’ Criminals , Pink Floyd and Iron Maiden amongst others. In an earlier role he served as Marketing Director of the Parlophone label, overseeing major campaigns for artist such as The Beatles, Radiohead, Blur, Tina Turner, Queen, Pet Shop Boys, Beastie Boys and Crowded House.

Most recently he has been building and running his own consultancy, Tideswell Media where he worked with companies such as BBC Worldwide, BBC Worldwide Live Entertainment and Opus Corporate Finance, and is a partner in artist management company Nightswimming Management.