Val Blavatnik Named to Warner Music Group Executive Team, Elliot Grainge Named Chair of ADA, More

Val Blavatnik, a 28-year-old son of Warner Music Group majority owner Len Blavatnik, has been appointed as managing director of Warner Music North America, U.K. and Corporate Development. In this new position, Blavatnik, who has previously held several roles at the company and has been a board member since 2023, aims to "unify and drive business and operational strategy across these markets while guiding the company's investment strategy to support growth," according to a press release.

This announcement is part of a series of new executive appointments made by Warner Music Group CEO Robert Kyncl.

Additionally, Atlantic Music Group chairman/CEO Elliot Grainge will become the new chairman of ADA, while Alejandro Duque, who has held the roles of president of Warner Latin and president of ADA since last July, has been appointed as president of Warner Music International. Under Duque's oversight, this role will include Asia-Pacific and Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Zach Friedman, currently COO at Atlantic Music Group, will assume the additional title of vice chair of ADA. This means that Simon Robson, who has been president of EMEA recorded music since September 2021, and has spent nearly 30 years in senior international roles at Warner Music, will be departing the company. He will be replaced by Guillermo Gonzalez, who has been president of Warner Music Iberia for the past six years. Andrés Rothschild will take over Iberian operations.

Len Blavatnik, who founded Access Industries and purchased Warner Music Group in 2011, took the company public in 2020. Kyncl succeeded longtime CEO Stephen Cooper in 2022. Recently, Guillermo Gonzalez will assume Iberian operations, replacing Simon Robson in his role as president of EMEA recorded music. Aaron Bay-Schuck has been confirmed as the sole chairman/CEO of Warner Records, after Tom Corson was promoted to COO of the Warner Music Group.