Universal Music Group (UMG) has named Samantha Fink, Ph.D. as Senior Vice President of Human Resources, effective immediately.
As a member of UMG’s global HR team, Fink will oversee business partnering and employee relations, working directly with the company’s label leadership and operating units around the world.
She will be based at UMG’s Santa Monica headquarters and report to Gautam Srivastava, Executive Vice President of Human Resources – who arrived at UMG in May.
Srivastava said, “At UMG, our HR organization is focused on helping our business evolve through professional development and talent recruitment, while supporting the company’s senior management and label leadership redefine the role of a modern music company that spans film, television and theater, live events, brand partnerships and merchandising.
“With Samantha, we’re adding a seasoned executive with global HR and operational experience who will play a critical role in identifying changes, assessing solutions and collaborating with employees to continue making Universal Music the best home for artists.”
“This is an incredibly exciting time to join Universal Music,” Fink said. “I’m looking forward to working with our labels to support UMG’s mission around the world to develop new opportunities for artists. I’m thankful to Gautam and the entire executive team for this responsibility.”
“Samantha is a seasoned executive with global HR and operational experience.”
Gautam Srivastava, UMG
Fink brings more than two decades of leadership experience overseeing global human resources teams in North America, Europe and Asia at companies including Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton (LVMH), Prada USA Corp. and James Perse Enterprises.
Most recently, Fink was a member of Spencer Stuart’s Consumer and Human Resources Practices, based in Los Angeles.
Fink started her career in marketing at Yves Saint Laurent Beauté and Clarins Paris, before transitioning to an HR role at LVMH, where she was promoted over the years to Vice President of Recruitment and Development for the Americas.
After LVMH, Fink was Senior Vice President of Human Resources at Prada USA Corp., where she partnered with the local CEO and executive team to support regional business goals, oversaw North America across all group brands, opened the company’s Mexico market and helped the organization transition upon going public.
She was also promoted to a leadership role with operational responsibility and reported directly to the Prada Group CEO.
Fink holds a doctorate in organizational anthropology from the Université de la Sorbonne Nouvelle – Paris III and a master’s degree in cultural anthropology and comparative linguistics from the Université de Rouen.Music Business Worldwide
