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While Hands’ plan is seen as radical by some, he obviously had to do something, as EMI’s marketshare dipped to just over 8% last year, about the same as that of Interscope.

I.B. BAD’S EMI SCORECARD

Guy Has His Hands Full As He Tries to Restructure Company

The moves instituted at the British major last week were as significant as any to take place during the fledgling Guy Hands era at EMI Music, but before the news could be fully absorbed or discussed, it was superseded by the Weiss/Davis blockbuster. Now it’s time to focus on the Hands-picked key players.

Nick Gatfield takes the post of President A&R, replacing Roger Ames. He comes back to EMI after turning down an offer to stay on as the head of Island U.K. According to insiders, Gatfield had hoped to be named the overall head of UMG U.K., but was passed over in favor of David Joseph. The well-liked veteran reportedly turned down a number of other offers to go with EMI. Gatfield is considered a catch, having played a major role in the development of Amy Winehouse, Mika (who broke big in the U.K. and Europe last year) and Duffy. He has some history with Ames, as the two worked together at PolyGram before it was merged with MCA to form UMG. Gatfield also has extensive experience in the U.S., which will serve him well in his new job.

Chris Roling moves from CFO of EMI Music and CFO of International Labels to President/COO, putting him at the same level as Gatfield and in a complementary position, overseeing non-creative functions on a worldwide basis. Roling’s new responsibilities also include heading EMI’s Operating Board. He was SVP at ICI, handling procurement and logistics, and CFO at Getty Images, the photo library, before leaving to join Seattle-based technology company Aventail.

Under Roling, Terra Firma executive Sam van der Peltz fills the key post of global marketing head, where he’ll apply his 20 years of marketing experience at Unilever, Odeon Cinema and other companies to the music business.

Colin Finkelstein goes from CFO of EMI N.A., a post he’s held since his 2002 hiring by David Munns, to President of North American operations.

Ames goes from the President of A&R for the U.S. and U.K. to Acquisitions advisor for Terra Firma, thus taking the experienced creative executive away from his primary area of strength, a move that many observers find baffling.

Under the newly installed dual structure, will Capitol Music Group head Jason Flom and Blue Note topper Bruce Lundvall report to both Gatfield and Finkelstein. Whether the roles of either or both of the U.S.-based A&R specialists will be altered has yet to be revealed.

Greg Thompson received a major boost to head up a central promotion staff for all EMI’s U.S. labels as EVP EMI Music U.S., reporting to Capitol Music Group President Lee Trink who in turn, now reports to van der Peltz and Finkelstein. The single promotion department will now serve as support function for all A&R labels under the new Terra Firma structure outlined last week. Look for well-respected veteran Ed Green to stay with the company.

What remains unclear is whether the heads of sales at CMG and Blue Note will now report to van der Peltz, their respective label heads or a player to be named later.

While Hands’ plan is seen as radical by some, he obviously had to do something, as EMI’s marketshare dipped to just over 8% last year, about the same as that of Interscope.

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