RCA Records Head Ousted in Shake-Up

RCA Records President Jack Rovner was ousted in a surprise management shake-up at Bertelsmann Music Group.

The move is part of a restructuring in which the German record corporation will dissolve its North American sector, removing a corporate layer between its American labels and its global operation.

Bob Jamieson, who ran the North American division, will take over as chairman of the newly formed RCA Music Group, overseeing such labels as RCA Records, RCA Nashville, Heritage, RCA Victor and RCA Canada. Sources say Jamieson wanted a more hands-on creative role at the company and will oversee the start-up of new imprint labels at BMG.

Under the new structure, distribution and other back-office divisions will report to Michael Smellie, BMG’s new chief operating officer. Rovner, who had more than three years left on his contract, was informed of his ousting late Tuesday in New York.