Sony/ATV Music Publishing, the global leader in music publishing, has promoted longtime executive Guy Henderson to president of international, effective immediately. Henderson, previously the executive vp of international, is tasked with overseeing all of the company's operations and sub-publishers outside the Americas and U.K., where he is based in London. As before, he reports directly to Sony/ATV chairman and CEO Martin Bandier.
"Guy is an exceptionally talented executive with the ability to make everything look seamless and easy," said Bandier in a statement. "He has been successfully running our international operations for many years, having put together an incredible team of managing directors, finance people and creatives which have made Sony/ATV the No. 1 international music publisher."
Henderson joined Sony/ATV in 2001 as vp of Europe and was elevated to senior vp of international a few years later. Under his leadership, the company has cemented its influence in established regions such as Europe, Australia and South East Asia, and expanded into a number of major markets, including Russia, India and China, where Henderson worked closely with streaming company China Music Corporation, recently scooped up by digital behemoth Tencent. He has also worked on numerous acquisitions across Europe, Africa and Asia and was part of the leadership team that obtained regulatory approval for Sony/ATV's 2012 acquisition of EMI Music Publishing.
Before getting into the publishing business, Henderson spent six years as managing director of Sony Music South Africa, and prior to that headed the independent Gallo Record Company. Over the years he has worked closely with artists including Michael Jackson, Celine Dion, Al Jarreau, Midnight Oil, Gloria Estefan, Die Antwoord, Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Lucky Dube, whose biography he wrote. He also worked with American folk singer Sixto Rodriguez, whose popularity in South Africa was the subject of the Academy Award winning documentary, Searching for Sugar Man.
"In this new world where a hit song can come from anywhere and a successful DSP can emerge from anywhere it is a great time to work in a truly global business and for a truly global company," Henderson said. "Having cut my teeth in this industry in South Africa I have learned to appreciate the necessity of both dominating a local market and at the same time breaking into bigger markets. Marty's ongoing support and unparalleled enthusiasm for this business has enabled Sony/ATV to continue to achieve both."
Henderson serves on the boards of the International Music Publishers Association and International Confederation of Music Publishers.
