He joins label president Jason Iley and Clive Cawley - who has been promoted from label manager at imprint Vertigo to MD of Mercury, reporting into Iley.

Elsewhere, Elliot Taylor from Universal's central sales team becomes commercial director for Mercury, while Rachael Paley returns to the label as senior marketing manager after two years away at Rhino and Warner Music.

Smith will start his new role in September.

The exec left Columbia in April after six years at the company ...