BMG has announced its executive management team and strategic leadership council, following the completion of its merger with Concord.

Working under the oversight of BMG’s board of directors, the executive team will be comprised of the following individuals:

Bob Valentine, Chief Executive OfficerBjörn Bauer, Chief Financial OfficerSebastian Hentzschel, Chief Operating OfficerVictor Zaraya, Chief Revenue OfficerAmanda Molter, General CounselKent Hoskins, Chief Transformation Officer

BMG has also established an 18-member strategic leadership council, comprising the six members of the executive management team and 12 additional senior leaders from across the company (listed below).

Tom Becci, Global Recorded OperationsAlberto Chullen, Corporate Development & InvestmentsSophia Dilley, Concord OriginalsSean Flahaven, Concord TheatricalsCeline Joshua, Global Marketing & StreamingNitsa Kalispera, Global Supply Chain OperationsJon Loba, Global Frontline RecordingsRuth Martinez, Human ResourcesKristal McKanders Dube, Corporate CommunicationsAlistair Norbury, Senior Creative Advisor to CEO Bob ValentineTom Scherer, Global Catalog RecordingsJim Selby, Global Music Publishing

Further leadership appointments across BMG’s business and functions will be announced separately.

Japanese superstar singer-songwriter Yoshiki has signed a global distribution and publishing administration agreement with BMG through his record label, Melodee.

BMG will provide global distribution for Yoshiki’s new releases, beginning with “Forever Love (Live),” his new collaboration with internationally celebrated vocalist Josh Groban. The agreement also encompasses his solo album “Eternal Melody” and X Japan albums released from 1993 onward, including the hit albums “Art of Life” and “Dahlia.” BMG will additionally administer his publishing outside Japan.

Yoshiki said, “I’ve always believed that music has no borders. I’m now entering one of the most ambitious and creative chapters of my career, with new projects that bring together rock, pop, classical and contemporary music in ways I have never explored before. I’m thrilled to partner with BMG to bring this vision to the world. ‘Forever Love’ with Josh Groban marks the beginning-but this partnership represents something much bigger for the future.”

“Yoshiki is a true global artist whose creativity, vision, and connection with fans transcend genres and borders,” said BMG senior VP Michael Kachko. “We are proud to partner with him at BMG to support and amplify this next chapter on a worldwide scale.”

+ Concord Music Publishing has signed Israeli singer-songwriter-producer Noga Erez to an exclusive global publishing agreement. The company has also signed Erez’s partner and main collaborator Ori Rousso.

The go-forward publishing agreement covers all future works as well as select key tracks from Erez’s catalogue, including “Stuck In Heaven,” “Bubbling,” “Penny Lame,” “Not My Problem” and recent single “I Love You” featuring Armani White.

“Noga Erez is a force of nature and truly one of a kind,” says Adrian Hillekamp, director of A&R at Concord Music Publishing in Berlin. The music of Noga and Ori demands attention, their live show is beyond exhilarating and they keep innovating on every record. At the same time, they selflessly give energy, motivation and hope through their songs. It is a testament to their ability to inspire and a privilege for us to be a part of.”

+ City of Hope, one of the largest and most advanced cancer research and treatment organizations in the U.S., has named Black Music Action Coalition president-CEO Willie “Prophet” Stiggers to the executive board of the Music, Film and Entertainment Industry group, Over the past five decades, the group has raised more than $180 million to support the organization’s work.

“For more than five decades, MFEI has brought together people who have reached the highest levels of the entertainment business and want to use that influence for something larger than themselves,” said Kristin Bertell, City of Hope’s chief philanthropy officer. “Prophet is a natural addition to that tradition. He has built an extraordinary platform by bringing people together around issues that matter, and he understands the impact this industry can have when its leaders rally behind City of Hope’s mission to make hope a reality for all who face cancer.”