KATZ ANKLES BMG AS U.S. COMPANY REORGANIZES

A BMG press release announcing the splitting of the company’s U.S. repertoire operations into three units also noted that Zach Katz, President of Repertoire and Marketing, will step down at the end of the year.

Said worldwide CEO Hartwig Masuch, “Zach has made a substantial contribution to BMG over the past six years,” most notably in helping our US operation make the transition from an acquisition-driven start-up to an organically-driven music publishing and recordings company which genuinely delivers on its core values to its clients. I have immense respect for the commitment he has given BMG and salute his multitude of achievements.

“Zach is above all a close friend,” Masuch added, “and I am convinced we’ll work again together in the future.”

Katz began his official statement by expressing his “utmost gratitude to Hartwig, for believing in me over the years and believing in the U.S. team. Under his management, BMG has grown exponentially and achieved more in the past 10 years than most companies could ever dream possible. I am positive the greatest years of BMG still lie ahead with the company’s new U.S. leadership group at the helm.”

BMG’s new executive team will consist of Thomas Scherer, who’ll head the repertoire operation in Los Angeles; Kos Weaver and BBR Music Group’s Jon Loba, who will jointly oversee the Nashville office and lead the publishing and recorded music teams based there; and John Loeffler, who’ll be responsible for the company’s publishing and recorded music operations in New York.

The structural changes go into effect on Jan. 1, just before kickoff at the Rose Bowl, where Ohio State takes on Washington. But we digress.

“In a fast-growing company like BMG,” said Masuch, “one of the great challenges is to ensure you have the optimum structure for each stage of development. This structure prepares the ground for BMG’s next phase of the growth in the U.S., and I would like to congratulate Thomas, John, Kos and Jon as they take on these exciting new roles.”

The reasons for Katz’s exit were not revealed in the announcement, nor was his next landing spot. But a source close to Katz told MBW that he’ll be joining a “global technology company with a close relationship to the music industry.”