It’s official: As widely expected Warner/Chappell Music Publishing announced today that Guy Moot will be its new Co-Chair & CEO and run the company in tandem with Co-Chair/COO Carianne Marshall, according to an internal memo obtained by Variety. Moot, who will be leaving his post as president of worldwide creative at Sony/ATV Music Publishing, replaces Jon Platt, who announced in September that he will be stepping down to take the top job at Sony/ATV when Martin Bandier’s contract is up at the end of March.
Moot sharing power with Carianne Marshall, who Platt named as Warner/Chappell’s COO shortly before he announced his departure; both would report to Warner Music chief Steve Cooper. While Marshall — formerly a partner at SONGS Music Publishing, which was sold to Kobalt last year for $150 million — is new to the company and the majors, she is capable and well-liked, and sources predict a big role for her in the company’s new administration.
The move makes sense on a number of levels: Few publishing executives have the experience, the connections or the clout to fill Platt’s shoes. Platt’s deputy, Katie Vinten, is transitioning to a consulting role at the company while she launches a Warner label with hitmaker Justin Tranter. And sources tell Variety the London-based Moot had long been tapped by Bandier to take over for him when he retired — and was not overjoyed when the nod went to Platt.
The arrangement would be similar in structure to the CEO/COO model at Atlantic Records, where CEO Craig Kallman essentially handles the music-making side while COO Julie Greenwald markets the recordings and runs the company (there is significant crossover between their roles, but generally speaking that’s the idea). That model was adopted by RCA with Peter Edge and former COO Tom Corson, and now at Warner Bros. Records with Corson and new CEO Aaron Bay-Schuck.