Universal Music Group has announced a series of executive management appointments within Greater China and throughout the Asia region.
The major said it signals a significant expansion of UMG’s finance, marketing and public policy infrastructure in Asia to maximize creative and commercial opportunities across these markets.
As well as building up international artists in the expanding Chinese market, UMG will tap further into domestic talent.
Adam Granite, EVP, market development, Universal Music Group, said: “In order to maximise the opportunities for growth throughout these dynamic and fast evolving markets, we have expanded and bolstered our senior management teams within Greater China and throughout Asia to ensure that UMG remains at the forefront of industry change and innovation, breaking new talent and embracing new platforms and audiences, as the adoption of streaming through legal services continues to drive the growing music economy forward within the region.”
Aaron Wang (pictured) has been appointed as CFO for Greater China. He will be based in Beijing and report to Sunny Chang, chairman & CEO, UMG Greater China and Boyd Muir, EVP, CFO and president of operations for Universal Music Group. Wang joins the from Sony Pictures Entertainment, where he held the position of CFO, Greater China.
Tracy Mu has been appointed as finance director, Universal Music China. Mu will report to Wang and Garand Wu, MD, Universal Music China and joins UMG from international technology company Dolby Industries, where she spent 11 years, most recently as finance manager, APAC.
Yvonne Yuen has been appointed as SVP, marketing, Greater China. She previously held the position of SVP, international marketing for UMG in South East Asia and will continue to be based in Hong Kong. Prior to joining UMG in 2005, Yuen held the position of VP, marketing, Sony Music Asia and roles at Warner Music and Arena Group in Hong Kong.
Chang said: “These new additions to our senior management team show our ambition to expand the boundaries of commercial success for our recording artists, labels and other businesses both within Greater China and internationally. Working closely with our UMG partner labels globally, we will look to introduce more Chinese talent to international audiences as we did with Kris Wu in 2018, whilst also helping UMG’s international artists achieve success in to this rapidly growing music market.”
In addition, Elvin Eng, who currently holds the position of VP, finance for UMG, Asia Region has been promoted to CFO, UMG, South East Asia region, reporting to Muir. Eng will oversee the finance operations and strategy for South East Asian markets including Korea and will be based in Singapore.
UMG also announced the appointment of Ang Kwee Tiang (aka KT Ang) to the newly created position of SVP, Asia public policy, effective immediately. Ang joins UMG from IFPI, the global trade body for recorded music, where he has served as regional director, Asia Pacific since 2013.
With more than 25 years of music industry experience throughout Asia, Ang has been involved in the development of public policy affecting music, including the enactments of copyright laws, anti-piracy efforts and the establishment of more than a dozen copyright collection societies for creators, publishers and producers in the region.
Reporting to UMG’s EVP, public affairs, Eric Berman, Ang will work closely with Granite and the regional executive teams to ensure that UMG is leading on creating and sustaining a robust and effective copyright framework to support a sustainable ecosystem for artists, creators and industry throughout the region. Based in Hong Kong, he will work across all markets throughout the region, including Hong Kong, Taiwan, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, South Korea, India, Japan and Vietnam.
Berman said: “KT’s appointment is not only a reflection of the fact that Asia is a crucial priority for UMG, and that sound public policies are essential to the success of the creative sectors, but also a reflection of the tremendous value of KT’s unparalleled experience and singular talent. You’d be hard-pressed to find someone with greater personal understanding of music public policy through the region. He also brings a unique breadth of expertise across the Asian music industry – from music publishing to recorded music –that will support our dynamic team in the region. Although we have known him and his work for many years, it is a great pleasure to welcome him to the UMG family.”
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