Just hours after his departure from Republic Records was announced, Jim Roppo has been officially named vice chairman of Warner Records Group. He will be based in Los Angeles and report to Chairman & CEO Aaron Bay-Schuck; his start date will be confirmed in the coming weeks.
Roppo joins the company following nearly three decades at Universal Music Group, where he most recently served as Chairman and CEO of Republic Records, overseeing global strategy, operations, and artist development. Prior to that, he was President and COO of Republic Collective, an umbrella group housing flagship imprints including Republic, Island, Def Jam, and Mercury.
Bay-Schuck said, “Everything we do is rooted in artist development, and Jim has spent his career ensuring that creatives have the tools, resources, and support to reach their full potential. Few have excelled across so many parts of our business – from digital to commerce to marketing – and that range, paired with a track record of breaking stars, will be invaluable as we accelerate the next phase of growth for Warner Records Group.”
Roppo added, “I’m excited to join Warner Records at such an important moment, with undeniable momentum across the roster. My focus has always been on backing great music and helping teams win, and I look forward to bringing that to Warner. My biggest thanks to Aaron for this opportunity.”
Roppo joins a company that has seen recent success with releases from Madonna, Zach Bryan, Sombr, Benson Boone, Teddy Swims, Linkin Park and more.