KOBALT HIRES THREE SIX ZERO U.K. GM

Kobalt has hired legal exec Arif Mahmud as VP of Business Affairs in London. He joins after more than two years at Three Six Zero, which is understood to be shuttering its U.K. operation.

Mahmud has been Global General Counsel & London General Manager at Three Six Zero since 2014. Prior to that, the exec spent four years as Manager, Business & Legal Affairs for Polydor, Capitol and Fiction Records at Universal Music Group. He is a reformed solicitor.

In his new role, Mahmud will work with Kobalt’s management team to expand the business and client base of Kobalt Music Recordings and AWAL in all regions outside the U.S. He will be primarily focused on helping shape the deal structure and legal and commercial framework for future client partnerships.

The hire is hot on the heels of rumors suggesting that Three Six Zero founders Mark Gillespie and Dean Wilson are splitting, and setting up two separate ventures. The company’s clients include Calvin Harris, Frank Ocean, Travis Scott, Jessie Ware and Deadmau5.