Universal Music Group appoints senior vice president, global classics

Multinational Music corporation Universal Music Group (UMG) has announced the appointment of Michelle Teh, as the new senior vice president in the company’s Global Classics and Jazz (GCJ) division. Teh will succeed Sam Jackson, who left his role as executive vice president of GCJ earlier this year to take become controller of BBC Radio 3.

Having joined UMG in 2012 as part of the Classics International team, Teh will return to the GCJ division from UMG’s Global Priorities team, where she has spent the last three years in the role of vice president. In her new role Teh will oversee a roster of artists including Ludovico Einaudi, Lang Lang, Víkingur Olafsson, and Lise Davidsen.

The announcement was made by Dickon Stainer, division president and CEO, who said: ‘I’m delighted to welcome Michelle to our division and am thrilled to have such an experienced, forward-thinking and revered executive on board, who can further drive the prosperity of our world-renowned and upcoming artists. Michelle has a brilliant track record of attracting diverse audience sectors to different types of music, and her experience will help us build on our successes so far.’

Teh will bring over 20 years’ industry experience to her new role, having run international marketing campaigns for musicians including Andrea Bocelli, Ólafur Arnalds and Alice Sara Ott. She also collaborated with Disney Music Group on the GRAMMY award-winning soundtrack to the animated musical, Encanto and the launch of ABBA’s recent Voyage album.

Teh said: ‘I am excited to bring my global experience to this role. Classical music and jazz have the power to reach audiences far beyond their immediate fanbases – and through the wealth of platforms and the different ways we connect in the modern world, there is more opportunity than ever ahead of us. Working together with UMG’s phenomenal artists and our fantastic team will be an absolute privilege.’