Sony Music Entertainment (SME) has appointed Vanessa Picken as chair and CEO of Sony Music Entertainment Australia and New Zealand.
Picken will begin her new role in September and report to Sony Music Group chairman, Rob Stringer.
Based in Sydney, Picken will oversee all operations, artist signings, marketing, and business partnerships for the company. She also will forge new partnerships for artists with other Sony companies and identify opportunities for artists across multiple entertainment channels such as music, TV, film, podcasting, gaming and more.
Stringer said, “After a careful and thorough recruitment process, we are delighted to have Vanessa join our company in such a key role.
“Her impressive background covers so many areas of the modern music business in Australia and New Zealand and her recent leadership experience in the United States adds a global understanding to those existing skills. We believe Vanessa will be a trailblazing executive leading Sony Music Australia to an exciting future.”
Picken added, “I’m delighted to be coming home to join Sony Music Australia and New Zealand to take the company into a transformative next chapter. Our strategies will focus on music, allyship, and innovation, with a global mindset.
“Sony Music has a renowned reputation for empowering its artists and creators, breaking down traditional barriers to put them at the centre of everything it does. We will reaffirm our commitment to the discovery and development of new and emerging talent across both countries, as well as expanding the commercial and creative opportunities for our roster of artists locally and internationally.”
Picken brings to the role more than 15 years of leadership, with a reputation for strategic thinking and business transformation. Most recently, Picken served as managing director of independent global music company [PIAS] in Los Angeles, overseeing the growth and restructure of the company’s label group and distribution business.
Picken is also the founder of digital agency and label services company, Comes With Fries. The agency provides creative, digital marketing and media services to independent artists, managers, labels as well as various organisations and brands.