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“The creation of a cohesive marketing organization for the world will help us develop more global superstars and better leverage our assets.”
——BMG boss Rolf Schmidt-Holtz

BMG HATCHES MARKETING ENTITY OF GLOBAL PROPORTIONS

International Veteran Tim Prescott to Lead a Cast of Thousands All Over the World
BMG has created the Global Marketing Group, a worldwide structure to support its labels, repertoire centers and operating companies. The move follows the realignment earlier this year of BMG and the recent integration of Zomba Music Group into the mix. The Global Marketing Group will be he headed by Tim Prescott, BMG’s Executive VP/Chief Marketing Officer, who reports directly to Chairman/CEO Rolf Schmidt-Holtz.

“The creation of a cohesive marketing organization for the world will help us develop more global superstars and better leverage our assets,” said Schmidt-Holtz. “Tim brings to his new role outstanding experience and leadership skills. I have every confidence that he will be a driving force for BMG as we continue to build the world's leading home to artists."

The marketing division will comprise four major departments, all reporting to Prescott.

The Global Frontline Marketing Department, focusing on worldwide artist development, will oversee global marketing strategies from New York. The team will connect directly with BMG's major repertoire centers (RCA Music Group, Arista, Jive/Zomba, U.K./Australia/ South Africa, Germany/Switzerland/Austria and International) and their respective international departments to dream up and execute campaigns on a worldwide basis. Specialist marketing and promotions staff based in Europe, Asia Pacific and Miami (Latin America) will report to New York HQ. Marketing directors within each operating company will continue to report to their managing directors but will also have a direct responsibility to BMG Global Marketing.

John Fleckenstein, most recently Sr. Director Marketing for Asia/Pacific, will take the post of VP Global Marketing, working with Arista, BMG U.K. and International. Meryvn Lyn, formerly Marketing Director in the European Regional Office, has been appointed VP Marketing & Promotions for Europe, reporting to Fleckenstein. A second VP Global Marketing will be appointed to work with the RCA Music Group, Jive/Zomba and BMG Germany/Switzerland/Austria, along with marketing and promotion for Latin and Asia-Pacific. Are you still awake?

The Strategic Marketing Group—U.S., headed by EVP Joe DiMuro, will deal with catalog. EVP BMG Special Products/BMG Heritage Gary Newman, VP Strategic Marketing Kenetta Bailey, VP DRTV Dennis Garces, Sr. Director Legal & Business Affairs Rachael Bickerton and VP Finance & Administration Larry Parra all continue to report to DiMuro.

The International Commercial Group, headed by SVP Stuart Rubin, will handle catalog worldwide, working closely with the Strategic Marketing Group in the U.S. and consolidating the various international catalog departments under one umbrella. Lyn Koppe (VP Commercial), Meir Malinsky (VP Catalog Marketing), Ava Volandes (Sr. Director Partnership Marketing) and Roger Menz (Sr. Director Direct Marketing/Special Projects) will head the individual departments.

BMG New Business Development and Visual Media, led by former Jive/Zomba executive Paul Katz, who’s been appointed SVP, will focus on the BMG's visual music assets and explore potential investments. Hang on—we’re almost through this.

All four groups will be supported by the New York-based Market Strategy and Performance Department and Global Marketing Services in London.

“BMG will now have a truly global marketing structure to support and amplify the creative power of our labels, repertoire centers and artists,” Prescott said of the mini-kingdom he rules. “Our new organization will provide BMG with a new level of accountability, coordination and effectiveness. I look forward to working with this marketing team, whose expertise, creativity and passion is second to none."

Prescott most recently served as Senior VP, BMG Asia Pacific. He joined BMG as Managing Director of BMG Australia in 1996, having previously held posts at Sony Music and PolyGram Australia.