Sony/ATV Music Publishing has promoted Sarah Lockhart to Head of A&R for the company’s U.K. division. Based in the pubco's London office, she reports directly to President and Co-Managing Director David Ventura.

In her newly elevated role, Lockhart leads the U.K. division’s revamped A&R department, which boasts a team of 12, and oversees its talent roster. She also leads A&R initiatives for discovering and supporting talent, as well as creating new opportunities for songwriters globally.

“Sarah is a born leader, a passionate A&R and one the hardest workers I know,” Ventura said. “She fights for creators and her management is elegant and inspiring, which are skills she has developed throughout her career across publishing, records, management and media/radio.”

Since joining Sony/ATV just over a year ago, Lockhart—who is interviewed in our U.K. special issue, which lands today—has signed songwriters such as Aitch, Young T & Bugsey, D Block Europe and Shaybo. Sony/ATV UK Co-Managing Director Tim Major added: “Sarah has made such an impact since joining the company. She fully deserves to lead the dynamic and flourishing A&R team that she has already played such a significant role in shaping and nurturing and to be at the heart of everything we do for our songwriters.”

Lockhart, an expert in U.K. underground music, launched her music industry career in the club culture of the late '90’s U.K. garage scene, working in record shops and vinyl distribution. She held the role of A&R manager at EMI Music Publishing in 2000 when she also founded the club FWD>>, which developed dubstep and grime, paving the way for the advent of much of today’s club music. In 2005, Lockhart began working on the Rinse FM radio station, where she campaigned for its radio license and built it into a powerhouse within the industry, bringing London's grassroots musical communities together.