Universal Music Group
Pascal Nègre
Global head of new business, Universal Music Group Chairman/CEO, Universal Music France President, Universal Music Italy, Middle East & Africa
Slightly more than a year ago, Pascal Nègre’s already packed schedule got a bit busier. He was appointed to the newly created role of global head of new business for Universal Music Group, while retaining his existing posts as head of Universal Music in France, Italy, the Middle East and Africa. Nègre’s promotion placed him in charge of driving UMG’s strategic growth initiatives on a global basis. Working across brand partnerships and new business models, Nègre’s first year in the role was marked by UMG inking deals with various international brands, tech companies and banks in more than 70 countries. Nègre says that during the past 12 months Universal also made strong progress in fast-emerging markets like Africa and the Middle East, and he aims to open new offices in Senegal and Morocco in 2014. “Last year really showed us that the subscription and streaming model is ready to explode on a global level,” he says. Meanwhile, in his role as chairman/CEO of Universal Music France, Nègre’s team landed the year’s best-selling domestic album with Stromae’s Racine Carree. “A&R remains key to everything that we do,” he says.