LONDON, UK (Sony BMG) - Maarten Steinkamp, head of SONY BMG
Music Entertainment's operations in Continental Europe, announced today the appointment of top management for SONY BMG
Music France. Olivier Montfort has been named Chairman and CEO, SONY BMG
Music France;
Christophe Lameignere has been named Executive Vice President, SONY BMG
Music France and President,
Music Division; and Alain Prigent has been named Senior Vice President, SONY BMG
Music France.
"I am delighted to see executives of this caliber join forces to lead our company in a market as vibrant and challenging as France,' said Mr. Steinkamp. 'Given their talent, enviable track records and unique knowledge of the French market, I am confident that Olivier and
Christophe with the support of Alain will build SONY BMG
Music France into a true powerhouse.'
Olivier Montfort joined Sony Music France as Managing Director, Columbia Records, in 1993 where he was responsible for building the label's local and international roster, in particular the development of Celine Dion's career in the French market. Under Mr. Montfort's management the label became France's number one in market and chart share. He was appointed General Manager, Sony Music France at the beginning of 1999 and was named President and CEO in 2000.
Since then Sony Music France developed a number of platinum selling artists such as Garou, Lorie, Yannick Noah and Natasha St Pier, while building on the success of such long-standing Sony Music artists as Jean-Jacques Goldman, Francis Cabrel and Pascal Obispo, among others.
Previously, Mr. Montfort worked in the music retail business, first at FNAC France and later at Virgin Megastore where he was responsible for launching the Virgin Megastore chain in France from the Paris store in the Champs-Elysees.
Christophe Lameignere most recently served as President, BMG France, having previously served as President of BMG France's Music Division. Mr. Lameignere is responsible for signing platinum-selling acts Kyo and Benabar as well as gold-selling artist Priscilla and Luke. He also ensured the continuing success of Patrick Bruel and Laurent Voulzy, as well as the resurgence of Roch Voisine.
Under Mr. Lameignere's leadership, BMG France showed a spectacular increase in market share during the last two years. He first joined BMG in early 2003 after the company acquired Zomba Records, whose operations in France were launched by Mr. Lameignere in 1999.
Before joining Zomba, he served as Managing Director, and prior to that as A&R Director, for Sony Music France/Epic. He began his career at EMI Music Publishing France where he signed Pascal Obispo and Supreme NTM, two hugely successful French acts.
As Senior Vice President, SONY BMG Music France, Alain Prigent will oversee finance, administration, IT, operations and sales. Mr. Prigent most recently held the same position for Sony Music France, since 2000. Prior to joining Sony, he served as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Continental Europe, Universal International, from 1995 to 2000, having previously held a number of finance positions of increasing responsibility at PolyGram International starting in 1983. Mr. Prigent began his career as Finance Director at DIAL, the French music and video club.
About Sony BMG Music Entertainment
Sony BMG Music Entertainment is a global recorded music joint venture with a roster of current artists that includes a broad array of both local artists and international superstars, as well as a vast catalog that comprises some of the most important recordings in history. Sony BMG Music Entertainment is 50% owned by Bertelsmann A.G. and 50% owned by Sony Corporation of America.
