Sony/ATV Music Publishing has made another major promotion – upping GuyHenderson to the position of President, International, based in the company’s London office.
In the role, which is effective immediately, Henderson is in charge of all of the company’s operations and sub-publishers outside the Americas and U.K. with all territory Managing Directors reporting to him, including in continental Europe, South East Asia, Russia, Australia, India, Africa, Turkey, Israel and the Middle East.
He reports to Martin Bandier, Chairman and CEO of Sony/ATV.
Sony/ATV Chairman and CEO Martin Bandier said: “Guy [Henderson] is an exceptionally talented executive with the ability to make everything look seamless and easy. He has been successfully running our international operations for many years, having put together an incredible team of managing directors, finance people and creatives which have made Sony/ATV the No. 1 international music publisher.
“This is a well-deserved promotion and we’re lucky that he has committed to stay on with us in this important role.”
Henderson joined Sony/ATV in 2001 as Vice President, Europe having spent six years as Managing Director of Sony Music South Africa, which he was charged with setting up following the election of Nelson Mandela as the country’s President.
He was previously Managing Director of South African independent Gallo Record Company.
GuyHenderson said: “In this new world where a hit song can come from anywhere and a successful DSP can emerge from anywhere it is a great time to work in a truly global business and for a truly global company. Having cut my teeth in this industry in South Africa I have learned to appreciate the necessity of both dominating a local market and at the same time breaking into bigger markets.
“Guy is an exceptionally talented executive with the ability to make everything look seamless and easy.”
Martin Bandier, Sony/ATV
“Marty’s ongoing support and unparalleled enthusiasm for this business has enabled Sony/ATV to continue to achieve both.”
GuyHenderson has overseen continued growth for Sony/ATV in international markets around the world, including in established music territories in regions such as Europe, South East Asia and Australia.
Under him the company’s business has also expanded significantly in a number of developing markets, among them China, Russia, the Middle East, Africa and India.
Henderson has worked closely with China’s leading music streaming company China Music Corporation, recently acquired by Tencent, to develop the music publisher’s digital business across all key local Digital Service Providers.
Led by Henderson, Sony/ATV is also capitalizing on China’s growing interest in Anglo-American music by overseeing growth in the territory of the firm’s synch business. Last year Sony/ATV’s Chinese company secured the first ever placement of a Beatles song (“Hey Jude”) in a Chinese movie (coming-of-age film Yesterday Once More).
Henderson has also driven a series of acquisitions in Germany, France, Benelux, Italy, South Africa and South East Asia as well as Sony/ATV’s expansion in Poland and the rest of Eastern Europe.
He was also part of the Sony/ATV team which obtained regulatory approval for the acquisition of EMI Music Publishing.
While based in South Africa, Henderson signed and worked with a number of the country’s leading artists, including Hugh Masekela, Abdullah Ibrahim, Lucky Dube, Die Antwoord, Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Stimela, the latter two having played a significant role in Paul Simon’s ground-breaking, Grammy-winning album Graceland.
In his roles at Sony Music and Sony/ATV he has worked closely with acts such as Michael Jackson, Celine Dion, Gloria Estefan, Rodriguez, Midnight Oil, Al Jarreau, Toto, Ray Davies, Yusuf Islam and Joe Jackson as well as the Bob Dylan organization.
Henderson wrote Lucky Dube’s biography called Crazy World. An expanded version was published upon Dube’s death in 2007.
