Lawrie in, Carrabba, Thea out

EPIC MOVES: L.A. Reid has selected well-respected Sony Music international vet Kevin Lawrie as Epic President/CEO, while former Jive EVP Tom Carrabba—who’d been rumored to be Reid’s likely #2—and A&R head Peter Thea got pink slips instead of new gigs, the N.Y. Post’s reliable Claire Atkinson reports. “If you are considered a Barry Weiss guy, then you’re out,” one insider told her. As Atkinson points out, SME ruler Doug Morris is doing exactly what he’s been doing throughout his career: giving his key execs wide latitude in terms of decision-making. Consequently, both Reid and RCA chief Peter Edge had the ability to handpick execs from Jive, with Edge most notably choosing the label’s promo domo, Joe Riccitelli, to head up RCA promotion. The consolidation of four labels into three with the elimination of Jive has given Reid and Edge some wide-ranging options for staffing their new teams. Most industry observers believe that one of Morris’ strongest management skills has been the empowering of his executive talent and his unflagging support for their individual visions, while at the same time giving them his wealth of knowledge in terms of how he sees the playing field. Additionally, Reid has supposedly hired former IDJ promo head Erik Olesen to run Epic promotion, while Jacqueline Saturn may stay on in a major new promo position. Saturn could also join Riccitelli’s RCA team as his heir apparent, according to her. (8/25a)