Imran Ahmed, Head of A&R at London-based XL Recordings, has left the label after 12-and-a-half years, MBW can reveal.
Ahmed (pictured) signed artists to XL including Vampire Weekend, Jai Paul and Jungle during his tenure at the company.
He told colleagues at the Beggars Group label today (May 15) of his departure via an internal email.
In that note, obtained by MBW, Ahmed said: “Handing in my notice was not a decision I came to lightly but I am excited by the new challenges ahead.”
“Handing in my notice was not a decision I came to lightly but I am excited by the new challenges ahead.”
He added: “I’m leaving to pursue my passion of finding, nurturing and breaking new artists from my current base in Los Angeles. I intend to do so with the same sense of integrity and respect that I have learnt during my time here.”
Ahmed thanked XL boss Richard Russell for “asking me to join XL all those years ago”, while also thanking XL’s Ben Beardsworth plus Beggars Group’s Martin Mills and Paul Redding.
Ahmed’s last day at XL is tomorrow (May 16), after which he will take a month out before embarking on his new professional endeavour in LA.
Ahmed presents a regular radio show on NTS in Los Angeles which is dedicated to new music.Music Business Worldwide
