Warner Music Group Corp. (WMG) has appointed Mark Baker as Vice President, Public Policy & Government Affairs.
Baker will oversee the company’s public policy positions and initiatives, as well as serve as its primary liaison with governmental and regulatory bodies across the globe.
Baker, who will be based at WMG’s New York headquarters, will report jointly to WMG EVP & General Counsel Paul Robinson and EVP, Communications & Marketing James Steven.
“Mark brings an extraordinary depth of experience, intellect, and insight to this important post,” said Robinson and Steven in a joint statement.
“This is a transformational time for the creative community, and we as an industry must remain super-vigilant to ensure that the rights and interests of our artists, our songwriters, and our companies are protected, and the value of music is not merely maintained but enhanced.
“Decisions made today will set the course for the music industry for decades to come. With his extensive global background, Mark will be an outstanding voice for the WMG family at the intersection of the arts, business and government.”
Baker comes to WMG with over two decades spent working on international trade policy and regulatory matters, multilateral trade negotiations, tax policy, and trade-related industry standards.
For the past 15 years, he has worked at Diageo, a global leader in the beverage alcohol industry, most recently serving as Director, Global Trade and Regulatory Affairs. During his tenure at Diageo, he has been based in Washington, DC, Miami, London, and Brussels, giving him extensive hands-on international experience.
Baker began his career as an International Trade Specialist at the US Department of Commerce, followed by a stint as Vice President, International Trade for the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States.
Baker holds an MALD, a flagship international affairs degree, from The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a BA in Government and Spanish language, following which he attended the University of Buenos Aires as a Fulbright Scholar.Music Business Worldwide
