Alison Donald and Mark Terry are to replace outgoing Columbia Records U.K. managing director Mike Smith.
Effective May 1, Donald and Terry will assume joint responsibility for the running of the label, reporting to Nick Gatfield, Chairman and CEO Sony Music U.K. & Ireland.
As previously reported, Mike Smith stepped down as managing director of Columbia Records U.K. April 24. He had been with the label since 2006.
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Confirming the appointment of Donald and Terry as label co-presidents, Gatfield said in a statement: “Alison and Mark are exceptional executives with a wealth of experience between them. Their complementary skills will drive Columbia to new creative and commercial heights.”
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Alison Donald joined Columbia Records in September 2011 as senior director of A&R, where she was responsible for all of Columbia’s domestic A&R. Her previous roles include a stint as managing director of Chrysalis Music, where she served for 10 years. Artists that she signed to Chrysalis during this time included Fleet Foxes, Yeah Yeahs Yeahs, Damon Albarn, Cee Lo Green, Rumer, Gnarls Barkley/Danger Mouse and Bat For Lashes, among others.
Prior to joining Chrysalis, Donald held the post of head of A&R at Warner/Chappell, where her signings included the Strokes and Gregg Alexander. She also worked for Capital/EMI Records for seven years, rising to senior VP A&R, based in Los Angeles.
Terry was previously general manager at Atlantic Records U.K., overseeing campaigns for Bruno Mars, Rumer, Paulo Nutini, Plan B, Christina Perri and multiple 2012 Brit Award winner Ed Sheeran. Before joining Atlantic, Terry worked as senior VP of marketing at EMI, where he is reported to have played a pivotal role in the restructuring and running of the U.K. labels, following EMI’s acquisition by private equity firm Terra Firma in 2007. Other previous posts include general manager for Virgin Records, where he worked on campaigns for the Rolling Stones, Katy Perry, Massive Attack and the Chemical Brothers, among others.
“I’m looking forward to the new challenges ahead at Columbia, and I am delighted to be working alongside Mark as we take Columbia from strength to strength,” said Donald in a statement. Terry added: “Columbia is an iconic label with an incredible heritage and I can’t wait to join the team, and with Alison help take it to new successes.”
The label’s roster includes Bruno Mars, B.o.B., Skrillex, Plan B, Christina Perri, Ed Sheeran, Estelle, Kid Rock, Flo Rida, Travie McCoy, James Blunt and Jason Mraz, who is currently at No. 2 in the U.K. albums chart with Love Is A Four Letter Word.