SonyBMG is expected to name Tim Bowen, who oversees many of the company’s international operations, its chief operating officer – the position at the center of the recent power struggle at the top of the music giant.
Bowen, who currently runs SonyBMG’s operations in the U.K., Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, will take the job that was vacated late last year by Michael Smellie, the former BMG exec who took the COO job after Sony Music and BMG merged in 2004.
“He’s a solid guy, very well-liked by employees,” said one industry executive who has worked with Bowen. “He listens to everyone and always has his office open.”
Smellie’s departure – which left Bertelsmann without one of its own at the top – exacerbated tensions between the two sides, triggering the power struggle in which Bertelsmann sought to oust CEO Andrew Lack.
The spat, which resulted in months of strained relations at the company, is close to being resolved. As expected, former BMG boss and current chairman Rolf Schmidt-Holtz will take the CEO job, while Lack will take the chairman role.
The announcements about Bowen and the role swap between Schmidt-Holtz and Lack is likely to be announced next week.
A spokesman for SonyBMG declined comment.
Sources say both Lack and Schmidt-Holtz signed new, multiyear contracts. Lack, who will no longer be in charge of the day-to-day operations at the company, is expected to oversee government affairs as well as a film unit that he established at the company.
Bowen, meanwhile, has deep experience with both cultures at the company. While he worked for BMG at the time of the merger, he previously worked for many years at Sony Music, having started his career at Sony Music U.K. in business affairs.
The power struggle at the company appears to have been triggered by two events: the departure of Smellie, and a multi-million dollar record deal Lack gave to Bruce Springsteen over the objection of Bertelsmann executives.
In the next couple of years a provision will kick in that would allow either Sony or Bertelsmann to disolve the joint venture – a prospect that people close to the company say is likely.