Ishizaka to head Warner Music Japan
Friday, October 28, 2011
Former Universal Music Japan Chairman Kei Ishizaka will become chairman/CEO of Warner Music Japan effective Nov. 1.
That’s one year to the day from when Ishizaka retired as UMJ chairman. Ishizaka also served as chairman of local labels body the Recording Industry Association of Japan for two years until this past June.
Ishizaka takes over as Warner Japan CEO from Hirokazu Tanaka, who has been serving as acting CEO since the October 2010 suicide of President/CEO Takashi Yoshida. Ishizaka will report to Warner Music Asia Pacific President Lachie Rutherford, who is based in Hong Kong.
One of the Japanese music business’s more colorful and outspoken characters, Ishizaka began his career in 1968 promoting international music at Toshiba Musical Industries (later known as Toshiba-EMI), a joint venture between Japanese electronics company Toshiba and EMI.
He surprised the local music industry in 1994 when he left Toshiba-EMI to head UMJ
predecessor PolyGram K.K., then very much an also-ran in the Japanese market. But Ishizaka built up Universal into one of the territory’s biggest labels, in large part by developing a strong roster of domestic acts. Ishizaka became UMJ chairman/CEO in 2006 when Kazu Koike succeeded him as president.
One industry insider says Ishizaka plans to hire former Universal Japan CFO Nobuko Suzuki as president of Warner Japan.
Said Rutherford in a starement: “One of this industry’s most accomplished executives, Kei Ishizaka continues to help define modern Japanese music. His unique combination of creative instinct, business acumen and operational experience makes him a world-class partner for our artists and leader for our team. With Kei at the helm, Warner Music Japan will aggressively extend its A&R activities and move into the next exciting phase of its evolution.”
Commented Ishizaka:“I have always been impressed by Warner Music’s energetic artist-centric approach and I am looking forward to working with Lachie Rutherford, Lyor Cohen and the rest of the talented team. We have a shared vision of how a truly progressive music company must serve its artists. I plan to lead Warner Music Japan in building its digital leadership and reinforcing its reputation as a super cool home for outstanding artists who make spectacular music."
