Sonny Takhar Named Warner Music U.K. & Ireland’s New CEO and Chairman

Warner Music U.K. & Ireland's new CEO and chairman, Sonny Takhar, was announced on Monday, September 28. This appointment follows the departure of Simon Robson, who managed the EMEA region for 30 years, on Friday, September 25, as part of a series of executive changes led by WMG's CEO, Robert Kyncl.

Tony Harlow is the last executive to hold the CEO title, having overseen the U.K. and Ireland operations from 2019 to 2025. Val Blavatnik, the 28-year-old son of Warner Music Group's majority owner and vice chairman Len Blavatnik, will serve as Takhar's managing director in the U.K. and corporate development role.

Upon assuming the role in January 2027, Takhar will oversee creative direction, artist development, and strategic operations across Warner Music Group's recorded music in the U.K. A founding partner of Syco Entertainment alongside Simon Cowell, Takhar played a pivotal role in the careers of One Direction, Little Mix, and Leona Lewis, among others. He also co-founded L.A.-based KYN Entertainment and worked with Westlife on their global tours.

Speaking about his appointment, Blavatnik praised Takhar's visionary leadership and talent discovery capabilities, stating that he is "one of the most visionary executives in music." Takhar, in turn, expressed his enthusiasm for leading Warner Music U.K. & Ireland, emphasizing his commitment to building an artist-centric organization with a forward-thinking approach.