Kelli Turner has been promoted to president and chief operating officer of SESAC Holdings, it was announced on Wednesday. Turner will oversee day-to-day operations, including financial matters, and continue setting strategic direction in her elevated role at the music rights organization.
Turner previously served as executive vp of operations, corporate development and chief financial officer at the Nashville-based company. In that role, she led the 2015 acquisition of mechanical rights org Harry Fox Agency, a move that solidified the firm's transition into a multi-rights organization. She also led last year's sale of SESAC to private equity firm Blackstone.
SESAC chairman and CEO John Josephson said in a statement that Turner's promotion was "well-deserved recognition of the role that she’s been playing at the company for the past few years."
Josephson added, "Her extensive experience and exceptional skills in driving and managing change will be invaluable as we continue to advance SESAC's business as well as its mission in this dynamic marketplace. It's an exciting time for the company, and we look forward to the next phase of its growth as well as continuing to execute on our mission to drive value for our writer and publisher affiliates."
Prior to joining SESAC, Turner was CFO at RSL Management Corporation and, before that, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc. She also held executive roles at Time Warner and New Line Cinema.
Turner was honored in Billboard's "Women In Music" list of most powerful female executives in 2015, 2016 and 2017.
