Rob Wiesenthal has been appointed Chief Operating Officer/Corporate of Warner Music Group.
Wiesenthal will be based in New York in the newly-created role and report directly to Steve Cooper, CEO, Warner Music Group. All other reporting relationships at the company remain unchanged.
Wiesenthal’s responsibilities will include global corporate development across WMG’s recorded music and music publishing operations, identifying new business models and helping to drive growth through key investments and acquisitions. Wiesenthal will also provide occasional advice to Access Industries, WMG’s parent company, on media and technology opportunities.
“There are few media and technology executives of Rob’s stature and expertise,” said Cooper. “His commercial acumen, commitment to innovation and wide-ranging experience make him a superb addition to our talented management team. Rob will be a valuable resource as we enhance and grow our position as a progressive music company.”
“I’m thrilled to join Warner Music at this exciting time for both the company and the industry. Throughout my career I’ve worked closely with media and entertainment executives in helping them identify new ways to enhance their business and to find opportunities for growth, including developing and executing innovative business models,” said Wiesenthal. “Atlantic Records, Warner Bros. Records and Warner/Chappell are among the most respected brands in music, with exceptional recording artists, songwriters and employees. It is an honor to join an organization with such incredible heritage, which is defining a new kind of music company with an entrepreneurial and creative spirit. I can’t wait to get started.”
Wiesenthal joins WMG from Sony Corporation where he has served in various leadership roles including Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer of Sony Corporation of America; Executive Vice President, Chief Strategy Officer, Sony Entertainment Inc.; and Group Executive, Sony Corporation.
He was also a member of Sony Pictures Entertainment’s Operating Committee and sat on the Board of Directors for Sony Music Entertainment and Sony Ericsson. He was responsible for all financial aspects of Sony Corporation of America across its entertainment companies, and led Sony’s corporate development and mergers and acquisitions efforts.
Wiesenthal’s achievements at Sony include leading the transaction to buy Bertelsmann out of its stake in Sony Music Entertainment’s recorded music joint venture in 2008. He oversaw the rapid growth of Sony/ATV Music Publishing, including through the acquisition of EMI Publishing in 2011 and the purchase of the Leiber Stoller and Viacom Famous Music catalogues in 2007.
Prior to joining Sony in 2000, he was Managing Director and Head of Entertainment & Digital Media, Investment Banking for Credit Suisse First Boston, where he advised on high profile deals including News Corp.’s purchase of New World Communications and Sony Pictures Entertainment’s acquisition of Telemundo, the second largest Spanish-language TV network in the United States. He also serves on the Board of Directors for Entercom Communications Corp. and TripAdvisor Inc. and is a mentor at TechStars, a digital startup accelerator.Music Business Worldwide
