A & M Records Names Al Cafaro President

Longtime record executive Al Cafaro has been named president of A&M; Records, the Los Angeles-based label of the Dutch music concern Polygram N.V.

The 42-year-old Cafaro, who joined A&M; Records in 1977 as a promotion manager, fills a post that had been held by A&M; Chairman and Chief Executive Jerry Moss. Moss has served as president since A&M; President Gil Friesen resigned in April shortly after A&M; was sold to Polygram.

A&M; in recent months has suffered a round of layoffs as well as the loss of a multimillion-dollar distribution pact with Windham Hill Records. But Cafaro, a former radio station deejay, said he expects the label to turn around as it gears up early next year for a host of new releases from veteran artists such as Sting, Amy Grant and Barry White.