Universal Music Group’s Island Def Jam label has named Jon Vanhala senior VP of digital and new business development. Technically, it’s a newly created position, but it also goes a long way towards replacing the void left by Christian Jorg who was senior VP of new media and commerce before being cut in January.
Vanhala’s tasked with overseeing all digital strategy, e-commerce, digital marketing and new business initiatives. He will be based in New York and report to Steve Bartles, president and COO.
From the release:
“Mr. Vanhala led his own consultancy firm since 2007, providing marketing, partnership, business development, and brand integration services for digital entertainment, media, and technology companies. During that time in 2008 and 2009, he worked for Festival Network LLC (FN) in New York, as Senior Vice President of Digital Initiatives, Content Development & Sponsorship. FN was a producer and aggregator of music festivals around the world, and Jon executive produced more than 80 live music festival performances, created the digital strategy from scratch, and drove sponsor activation programs.
Prior to 2007, Mr. Vanhala spent 13 years at Universal Music Group (UMG), most recently as Vice President and Senior Vice President, Digital & Strategic Marketing, Verve Music Group, since 2000. He began his career at UMG in 1994, as a Sales Department intern and as executive assistant to the General Manager/President. In 1997, he was promoted to Marketing Product Manager/Marketing Administration Manager. In 1998, he was named Label Sales Executive Of The Year at UMG. He also shared in Verve Music Group’s Record Label Of the Year awards from NARM in 2005 and 2006.
A former working musician, song writer, and bandleader with extensive credits, Mr. Vanhala attended Columbia College in Chicago, and Millikin University in Decatur, Ill. He served on the Advisory Board of the IAJE (International Association For Jazz Education) from 1997 to 2006.”