Island Records US president Darcus Beese has told Music Week of his “responsibility” to support British talent in America.

The recipient of The Strat at last month’s Music Week Awards spent almost three decades at Island in the UK, where he signed artists including Amy Winehouse, Sugababes, Dizzee Rascal, Keane and US chart-topper Taio Cruz.

“Your ambition for all your artists is for them to be global,” said Beese. “Now that I’m in the States, it should be part of ...