Former UMPG U.K. execs Caroline Elleray and Mark Gale have created Second Songs in partnership with Sony Music Publishing. The company also has a management arm.

The first signing to its management arm is songwriter/producer Steph Marziano, who has co-written songs for artists including Hayley Williams, Matilda Mann, Denai Moore and recently produced an album for Fatherson.

Tim Major, co-Managing Director at Sony Music Publishing U.K., called Elleray and Gale “passionate and caring executives who live and breathe music and relentlessly support the careers of the people they work with.”

“Their ethos for the Second Songs publishing venture chimes beautifully with our own—from creating an environment where the songwriter is always put first to helping to nurture young talent into the industry,” Major said.

Elleray was most recently VP of A&R at UMPG in the U.K. while Gale was Director of U.K. A&R/Director of International A&R. Together, they’ve worked with Coldplay, The XX, Keane, Mumford & Sons and others.