(CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — Christophe Lameignère has been promoted to chairman and CEO and Christophe Waignier has been appointed executive vice president Sony BMG Music France.
"Christophe Lameignère has an exceptional track record as a creative executive and I am thrilled that the future of our company in France is in such capable hands," Maarte. Steinkamp, president Sony BMG Music Entertainment, Continental Europe. "His unique talent for developing artists and building careers fits perfectly with our strategic focus on local A&R and steering the company to become the leading company in France. I am delighted that someone of Christophe Waignier's caliber, with his impressive operational and strategic experience, will help lead our operations in France. Lameignère and Waignier have shown in the past to be a winning combination."
Lameignère most recently served as executive vice president, Sony BMG Music France and president of the Music Division, since 2004. Prior to that he served as president, BMG France, having previously served as president of BMG France's Music Division. He is responsible for signing platinum-selling acts Kyo and Benabar as well as gold-selling artist Priscilla and Luke. He also ensured the continuing success of Patrick Bruel and Laurent Voulzy, as well as the resurgence of Roch Voisine. Under his leadership, BMG France showed a spectacular increase in market share during the last two years.
He first joined BMG in early 2003 after the company acquired Zomba Records, whose operations in France were launched by Lameignère in 1999. Before joining Zomba, he served as managing director, and prior to that as A&R director, for Sony Music France/Epic. He began his career at EMI Music Publishing France where he signed Pascal Obispo and Suprême NTM, two hugely successful French acts.
Waignier most recently served as senior vice president, Commercial Affairs, Sony BMG Continental Europe, since 2004. In this role, He was responsible for overseeing the company's sales, pricing policies and regional campaigns for all of Continental Europe. Prior to that he served as executive vice president, BMG France and chairman, European Services, where he supported Lameignère in BMG France's successful turnaround.
He was formerly vice president, IS&T and eMedia, BMG Europe, where he was responsible for instituting the company's pan-European supply chain. Previously he served as vice president, New Media, Central Europe & U.K., where he established and developed the Click2music presence across Europe as well as executed the first pan-European deal with OD2 on subscription models. He began his tenure at BMG in 1996 as vice president and chief administration officer, BMG France. –Bob Grossweiner and Jane Cohen
