KEMPLER JOINS VIRGIN

Three days into his reign, new Virgin Records chief Jason Flom is already making changes. Today, Flom announced the appointment of Jeffrey Kempler as Executive VP of Business Affairs and Development at the label, effective immediately. Kempler will be based at Virgin’s headquarters in New York and will report directly to Flom.

In this newly-created position, Kempler will oversee all of Virgin’s business affairs and business development initiatives and activities, working closely with Larry Mestel, COO and GM of Virgin Records U.S., and Phil Wild, SVP of Business Affairs.

“Jeff is one of the brightest, most respected and well-liked people in the music industry,” said Flom. “We’re fortunate to have him join Virgin.”

“I’m delighted to be joining Virgin with Jason Flom: a true record man,” said Kempler. “Virgin is an iconic brand with a proud history and a bright future. I am very confident that Jason’s leadership will further invigorate an already great team and realize its massive potential.”

Kempler was most recently General Counsel and SVP, Business and Legal Affairs, for Atari. From 2000 to 2004, he was SVP of Business and Legal Affairs for the Island Def Jam Music Group, also serving as a management board member of the Roc-a-Fella Records joint venture. Before IDJ, Kempler spent eight years as an entertainment lawyer specializing in music with Atlanta-based Greenberg Traurig, LLP, where he represented such artists and producers as Bone Thugs & Harmony, LL Cool J, Too Short, Toni Braxton, George Strait, Collective Soul and Desmond Child, as well as numerous executives.

Kempler received his Bachelors of Arts degree from the University of Rochester and a Juris Doctorate from Columbia Law School.