Warner Music Group has added Val Blavatnik to its executive ranks as part of a broad leadership shake-up spanning its international operations, distribution business and frontline labels.
Blavatnik, the 28-year-old son of WMG majority owner and vice chairman Len Blavatnik, has been named managing director of Warner Music North America, U.K. and Corporate Development, the company announced Friday, Sept. 25. He will work to align business and operational strategy across those markets while helping direct investments intended to support growth.
The younger Blavatnik has held several positions at WMG in recent years and has served on its board since 2023. CEO Robert Kyncl said Blavatnik’s “operational and strategic focus will help us build our momentum across key markets.”
New Roles for Elliot Grainge and Alejandro Duque
Atlantic Music Group chairman and CEO Elliot Grainge will also become chairman of ADA, giving him oversight of WMG’s global distribution channel. Zach Friedman, currently Atlantic Music Group’s COO, will add the role of ADA vice chair.
Grainge, the son of Universal Music Group chairman and CEO Lucian Grainge, previously founded 10K Projects as an independent company. Before WMG acquired it, 10K had pursued distribution-style agreements similar to ADA’s business. Grainge has since reorganized Atlantic Music Group into multiple branches, with Atlantic Records, 300 Entertainment and 10K Projects reporting to him.
Alejandro Duque, who has served as president of both Warner Latin and ADA since last July, has been promoted to president of Warner Music International. His expanded responsibilities include Asia-Pacific and Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
That change accompanies the departure of Simon Robson, who has been president of EMEA recorded music since last September and has spent nearly 30 years in senior international positions at WMG.
Guillermo Gonzalez, president of Warner Music Iberia for the past six years, will succeed Robson. Andrés Rothschild will take charge of the Iberian operations.
“We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to Simon Robson for his dedicated service, operational excellence and trusted leadership while expanding WMG’s global footprint over his remarkable tenure, and wish him the very best in his next endeavors,” Kyncl said.
Warner Records Confirms Its Sole Chief
Aaron Bay-Schuck has been confirmed as the sole chairman and CEO of Warner Records. He had co-led the label since 2018 and now moves forward as its only chief, two months after former co-chair and COO Tom Corson was promoted to COO of Warner Music Group.
Kyncl presented the collection of appointments as the next phase of a strategy focused on growing market share, increasing the value of music and improving efficiency.
“Elliot, Aaron, Alejandro and Guillermo are exceptional, dynamic and proven leaders who have transformed their domains, and elevating them allows us to further scale their success,” Kyncl said.
Val Blavatnik’s Expanding WMG Role
Val Blavatnik began working in the music business as an artist manager in 2016. Before joining WMG, he spent two years on LionTree’s investment team. In 2023, he became both a WMG board member and senior director of business development at Warner Chappell Music.
He has served as a special adviser to Kyncl since 2024 while completing his studies at Harvard Business School, graduating this past spring.
His work at WMG has included involvement in the acquisition of 10K Projects and the later restructuring that installed Grainge as Atlantic Music Group chairman and CEO. Blavatnik also participated in negotiations for Zach Bryan’s $360 million Warner Records deal last year.
His remit has extended into WMG’s artificial intelligence development and distribution plans, including the company’s agreement with Suno and its acquisition of distribution company Revelator earlier this year.
Discussing that AI strategy in January, Blavatnik said Warner’s guiding principle was securing “compensation and safeguards for artists and songwriters,” adding that the company would only make agreements with businesses committed to those standards.
“The music business, in my view, has always been late to innovate, and I think we have this incredible opportunity here to at least be on time and not fight innovation,” he said.
A Wider Executive Restructuring
Len Blavatnik, the founder of Access Industries, purchased WMG in 2011 and took it public in 2020. Kyncl succeeded longtime CEO Stephen Cooper in 2022 and has overseen layoffs and restructuring intended to save hundreds of millions of dollars while positioning the company for a more technology-centered future.
WMG has cycled through four CFOs in three years. Corson’s promotion followed the departure of former CFO and COO Armin Zerza. Warner Chappell co-chair and COO Carianne Marshall is also exiting following an announcement earlier this week, in what was characterized as another move away from the co-chair structure. Guy Moot is now the publisher’s sole chair and CEO.
Addressing questions in 2025 about whether WMG was undergoing a generational changing of the guard, Val Blavatnik said the priority was not age but leadership.
“It’s not so much about a generational shift, but more about having executives with bold, fresh ideas and the ambition to deliver outstanding results,” he said.