Warner Music Group names new EVP and CFO

NEW YORK - Warner Music Group Corp. (NASDAQ:WMG) has appointed Armin Zerza as its new Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, starting May 5. Zerza, who previously served as CFO of Activision Blizzard, will report directly to CEO Robert Kyncl.

Zerza is stepping into the role with a wealth of experience spanning three decades in the entertainment, technology, and consumer goods sectors. His tenure at Activision Blizzard was marked by his leadership as CFO and Chief Commercial Officer, where he was instrumental in the company’s growth and its acquisition by Microsoft.

CEO Robert Kyncl praised Zerza’s global experience and his track record of operational excellence, commercial innovation, and financial discipline. Kyncl expressed confidence in Zerza’s ability to contribute to WMG’s long-term strategy and growth, for the benefit of its artists, songwriters, investors, employees, and partners.

The current EVP & CFO, Bryan Castellani, will remain in his position until May 5 and will then serve as an advisor to ensure a smooth transition. Kyncl acknowledged Castellani’s significant contributions to WMG and wished him well for the future.

Armin Zerza expressed his excitement to join WMG, recognizing the company’s potential and his eagerness to work with the team to deliver on its vision for innovation and value creation. Castellani reflected on his time at WMG as rewarding and pivotal for the industry.

Before his role at Activision Blizzard, Zerza held various senior leadership positions at Procter & Gamble, including CFO roles in different divisions and on the global M&A team. He holds a Master’s Degree in Economics and Commerce from Vienna University of Economics and Business.

This announcement is based on a press release statement by Warner Music Group Corp.

In other recent news, Sweetgreen has announced the nomination of two new members to its Board of Directors. The nominees include Monty Moran, former co-CEO of Chipotle Mexican Grill, and Dawn Ostroff, former Chief Content and Advertising Business Officer at Spotify. These nominations are set to be confirmed at Sweetgreen’s upcoming annual meeting of stockholders. The company believes that Moran’s experience in scaling Chipotle to a national level and Ostroff’s expertise in digital content strategy will contribute significantly to its growth and customer engagement. Moran is noted for transforming Chipotle into a successful national brand, while Ostroff has played a key role in expanding Spotify’s global content strategy. This development follows the departure of long-serving directors Youngme Moon and Valerie Jarrett, who have chosen not to stand for re-election. Sweetgreen’s CEO, Jonathan Neman, acknowledged the significant contributions of the departing directors to the company’s governance and strategic direction. These changes come as Sweetgreen continues its mission-driven approach, focusing on quality ingredients and leveraging technology to enhance customer experience.

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