Executive Turntable: Warner’s New Head of International Marketing, Plus Avex USA Appoints a CFO

Time for a pre-holiday madness edition of Executive Turntable, Billboard’s compendium of promotions, hirings, exits and firings — and all things in between — across music.

Read on for better-late-than-never personnel news and don’t forget to check out WMG chief Robert Kyncl’s year-end note to staff and dig into all of our year-end business content, plus peruse our weekly interview series spotlighting a single c-suiter and our daily calendar of notable goings-on.

Luke Armitage was appointed senior vp of global marketing at Warner Records, where he’ll oversee international marketing for the label’s U.S. roster. Based in Los Angeles, he reports to Warner Music’s chief marketing officer, Jessica Keeley-Carter, and collaborates with Warner Records’ co-chairmen Tom Corson and Aaron Bay-Schuck. Armitage joins Warner after six years at Capitol Music Group’s Astralwerks Records, where he led global marketing for artists like Marshmello and Katy Perry. He also contributed to projects by The Chemical Brothers, FISHER and Meduza, among others. Prior to Astralwerks, Armitage held court at Universal Music’s international division in London, Metropolis Studios, and Universal Music Publishing.

Avex USA promoted Ryusuke (Ryan) Kamada to CFO, recognizing his pivotal role in the company’s growth since its 2020 launch. Ryan joined Avex in 2018 and transitioned from Avex’s Japanese headquarters to Avex USA, where he leveraged his expertise in global finance and law to expand operations in North America. He developed Avex USA’s corporate strategy, co-manages the Future of Music Fund and spearheaded partnerships with S10 and Roc Nation, among others. In Japan, Kamada was chief producer of Avex’s investment group, leading M&A and corporate venture capital investments. Prior to Avex, he worked in JP Morgan’s Tokyo office. The University of Pennsylvania grad began his career in Toyota’s legal division, handling major U.S. litigation and congressional hearings. Avex USA CEO Naoki Osada commended Ryan’s strategic vision, financial acumen, and “sincere respect and passion for songwriters are integral to the company culture.” Since its launch in Los Angeles in 2020, the U.S. branch of the Tokyo-based music and entertainment company has established a publishing division, a music start-up investment program and a record label.

Sphere Entertainment appointed Marcus Ellington as executive vp of ad sales and sponsorships, effective immediately. Ellington will develop and lead an ad sales and sponsorships unit to maximize revenue for Sphere’s assets, including the Vegas venue’s unmistakable exterior, known as the Exosphere. He’ll also drive brand-centric opportunities and broader marketing partnerships. Ellington is based in New York and reports to Jennifer Koester, Sphere’s president and COO. Ellington joins Sphere from Google, where he held various sales and partnership roles, most recently as director of Americas partnerships solutions. His experience includes overseeing relationships and ad revenue for Google’s largest media and entertainment partners. Prior to Google, he worked at Interactive One and CBS, and over the years has received industry awards and served on several boards. Koester praised Ellington’s innovative leadership and track record with premier brands “across a range of industries, which will be an asset as we continue evolving how brands can partner with Sphere to create impactful experiences unlike anywhere else.”

Third Side Music named Melanie Santa Rosa as its new head of copyright, based in New York. Reporting to co-founder/CEO Patrick Curley, Santa Rosa will lead the copyright department, focusing on transparency, efficiency and maximizing value for the independent publisher’s extensive roster, which includes Kurt Vile, SOFI TUKKER, Future Islands, Sky Ferreira and more. Santa Rosa brings a wealth of experience to the role, having previously served as executive vp of global digital copyright administration at Word Collections, managing worldwide copyright and royalty administration. She also spent 12 years at Spirit Music Group, rising to senior vp of global administration, and worked at BMI for a decade, collaborating with songwriters, publishers, and performing rights organizations. An advocate for creators, Santa Rosa serves on the AIMP New York Chapter board and is active in several industry organizations. Patrick Curley praised Santa Rosa’s expertise and reputation: “She is precisely the person we needed to lead the operation and development of Third Side Music’s worldwide collections platform in the years to come,” he said.

Infinite Reality, a leader in digital media and e-commerce leveraging spatial computing and AI, appointed Drew Wilson as chief operating officer. Wilson, who most recently served as both COO and chief financial officer at SoundCloud, will manage business operations, drive revenue, and advance iR’s strategic vision. Under his watch at SoundCloud, the audio platform achieved profitability for the first time in the company’s history, driving significant revenue growth, margin improvements and product innovation. He has also held key roles at First Look Media, AwesomenessTV, RLJ Entertainment and Warner Bros. Discovery, contributing to revenue growth and digital transformation. John Acunto, iR’s co-founder and CEO, praised Wilson’s proven ability to scale digital media businesses and his expertise in technology and fan engagement.

AEG Presents promoted Evan Marks to talent buyer for the Rocky Mountains region. Previously an assistant in the role, Marks will now oversee bookings at prominent venues like Mission Ballroom, Ogden Theatre, Gothic Theatre, Bluebird Theatre and some outdoor spot called Red Rocks. Based in Denver, he’ll report to Don Strasburg, president of Rocky Mountains and Pacific Northwest. A Houston native, Marks has been active in the Colorado music scene for nearly 15 years. After graduating from CU Boulder, he began his career as a talent buyer at Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom in 2017 before joining AEG Presents Rocky Mountains in 2022. Strasburg commended Marks for his passion and dedication to live music, highlighting his deep musical knowledge and strong execution skills. “Evan’s wide berth of musical knowledge and ability to execute will meet and exceed the lofty expectations of our music community.”

Eddie Kloesel has been named partner at WHY&HOW, the management company founded by Bruce Kalmick. Joining at its inception in 2020 as vp of touring and sponsorships, Kloesel was later promoted to executive vp, playing a pivotal role in shaping the company’s strategic goals. He has spearheaded brand partnerships, touring strategies and album releases, contributing to the success of clients like Whiskey Myers and Chase Rice. With a music industry career spanning nearly two decades, Kloesel began in 2005 as a day-to-day tour manager for Brandon Rhyder and joined Triple 8 Management in 2011 before becoming a member of WHY&HOW’s founding team. Kalmick calls Kloesel a a “trusted strategic thinker who approaches our clients’ business like an entrepreneur,” adding, “He’s always thinking outside the box and has brought forward opportunities that are not only lucrative for our clients but are also unique within the industry.”

Supreme Music secured the exclusive services of renowned sound designer Markus Stemler, celebrated for his Academy Award-nominated and BAFTA-winning work on All Quiet on the Western Front. This collaboration strengthens Supreme Music’s sound design and audio post-production for advertising and branded content. Stemler, known for projects like The Matrix Resurrections and Cloud Atlas, brings expertise in dialogue editing, ADR, Foley and re-recording mixing. His recent credits include Tides (2021) and Perfect Days (2023). For Supreme Music, he has contributed to standout campaigns such as Penny’s Wonderful World and the American Red Cross’ Mom, showcasing his exceptional artistry and versatility.

HarbourView Equity Partners partnered with The CultureShaker to lead its brand, marketing and PR efforts. The CultureShaker’s founder, Lucinda Martinez, will now serve as chief marketing officer of the investment firm, joined by Deborah Renteria as vice president of brand and content strategy. Martinez, known for award-winning campaigns like Game of Thrones and Insecure, brings a quarter-century of experience from Netflix, HBO and Comedy Central. Renteria brings complimenting expertise in content development and audience engagement from roles at Lionsgate, Facebook, and HBO. HarbourView CEO Sherrese Clarke Soares praised the team’s cultural and strategic insights, essential for the firm’s rapid growth, adding: “The CultureShaker is our first operating partner under our Create Platform, further cementing our position as a valued partner to artists, content creators, investors as we broaden our footprint and deepen our focus across the entertainment and creative ecosystem to continue to drive ROI.”

Curbside Concerts, a Canadian company that produces curbside concerts, welcomed Tracy Posadowski and Tom Yeates as managing directors of sales and marketing. Posadowski, co-founder of ATTCo Global Services, and Yeates, with extensive revenue management experience, aim to expand the company in Canada, enter the U.S. market, and explore new business avenues. Founded by Matt and Amanda Burgener during the COVID-19 pandemic to support struggling musicians, Curbside Concerts has grown significantly in its first four years, bringing music to people’s yards and curbs.

Isekai Records, a joint venture with Broke Records, launched in August 2024 by Ewan Jenkins, Jack Mangan and RJ Pasin, aims to be artist-friendly. Jenkins and Mangan, co-founders of E2J Artist Management, gained recognition in 2023 by managing Pasin, whose TikTok followers grew from 10,000 to 2.8 million and Spotify listeners to 7.5 million monthly. Isekai Records leverages their expertise to support emerging talent. Their debut release, “Embrace It” by Ndotz, marked their global entry and commitment to artist-centric music production.

ICYMI:

The board of directors of Farm Aid appointed Shorlette Ammons and Jennifer Fahy to lead the non-profit effective Jan. 1 … Hugh Forrest was promoted to president of South by Southwest, where he’ll continue to oversee programming and assume full leadership of an organization. Jann Baskett, the current co-president and chief brand officer, prepares to step down on New Year’s Eve.

Last Week’s Turntable: Red Light Green Lights Former Warner Nashville Prez