Guy Hands Finally Finds An Exec To Take Over EMI

Starting in October, the new CEO of EMI Records will be Elio Leoni-Sceti, an Italian advertising executive with no experience in the music industry. Terra Firma leader Guy Hands has been looking for someone forward thinking and informed enough to take over EMI’s top recorded-music position since buying the company last August, and evidently no one available was more appropriate for the position than a guy who made his name pushing house cleaning supplies for Reckitt Benckiser. Chris Martin must be delighted! Will Leoni-Sceti have the same success with Katy Perry as he did with laundry detergent? Guy Hands sure thinks so!

I am delighted that Elio is joining as Chief Executive of EMI Music to lead the most exciting business transformation in the music industry. His career achievements and outstanding leadership qualities are ideally suited to ensuring that EMI is a successful business. Elio has the passion, drive and belief in the future of the music industry to realise the ambitions we all have for EMI. Having completed the organisational restructuring at the end of June and finalised our strategic work, Elio joins at the right time to shape, drive and lead EMI to become the world’s most artist focused and consumer friendly music company.

Yeah, nothing says “we care about the artists” more than hiring a guy who knows how to make Lysol fly off the shelf. Then again, Leoni-Sceti’s old company was praised for focusing “on a small number of high-margin brands prized by devoted customers.” This might actually make him the perfect CEO for the age of Rihanna.

Found: Someone Who Wants To Run EMI’s Music Business [Silicon Alley Insider]