Sony’s Music Division Promotes Key Executives

Sony Music Entertainment President Thomas D. Mottola announced a batch of appointments Monday aimed at rewarding his team of senior executives with bigger titles and responsibilities as well as accelerating the development of Sony’s worldwide music companies.

Key among the changes will be elevating three Sony presidents to chairmen of their respective units. Don Ienner is now chairman of Columbia Records Group, David Glew is chairman of Epic Records Group and Mel Ilberman will be chairman of Sony Music International.

Robert M. Bowlin will assume the title of president of Sony Music International, a title Ilberman held before he was elevated to chairman, while Richard Griffiths is the new president of Epic, gaining the title formerly held by Glew. Ienner will retain the president title at Columbia.

Finally, Mottola named Michele Anthony, one of the key executives under him, as executive vice president of Sony Music Entertainment, a job that will involve her in managing all divisions within the company.

In an interview, Mottola said the moves represent a “giant message that Sony Music will be making big moves forward.”

Sony’s music business has been booming, thanks to sales from such artists as Pearl Jam, Mariah Carey and Barbra Streisand.

Mottola, whose role was expanded last year to oversee Sony’s international music business, is making a big push to boost the company’s foreign business as reflected by the recent establishment of a company in Turkey. Among the areas listed by Mottola as having major growth potential are Southeast Asia and Eastern Europe.

Harry Anderson has been named executive vice president of former Paramount Pictures Chairman Brandon Tartikoff’s Moving Target Productions, a film and television production firm with offices in Beverly Hills.

Anderson, who will oversee strategic planning and all key administrative duties, worked under Tartikoff at Paramount as vice president of corporate communications.

Anderson most recently worked as senior vice president at Sitrick & Co., a media relations firm in Century City. Anderson also spent more than 18 years at The Times, where he was deputy business editor and wrote a weekly column.

Patricia Ryan has been named president of DIC Entertainment’s international sales division.

Journalist Steve Chagollan and music publicist Jerry Brown have joined Lee Solters Co. as account executives handling entertainment and corporate clients.