Warner Music Japan has appointed longtime Universal executive Takeshi Okada as the label’s new president and CEO, with a start date of Dec. 2. He’ll report to Simon Robson, president of international recorded music, who is temporarily overseeing WMG’s recorded business in the APAC region until a permanent appointee is announced.
Okada transitions from EMI Records Japan, part of UMG, where he served as managing director since 2018. Under his leadership, EMI Records saw notable success with artists like Yumi Matsutoya and Mrs. GREEN APPLE. Prior to EMI, Okada spent over a decade at Universal Music Japan, where he played a crucial role in digital marketing and enhancing the label’s embrace of streaming in physical media-loving Japan.
Okada will transition into his new role with the support of outgoing president and CEO Kaz Kobayashi, who announced his departure last month after a decade at the top. Dr. Kenji Kitatani, the newly appointed chairman of WMJ, will also play a supporting role.
“It’s great news that the highly respected Takeshi Okada has agreed to run our business in Japan as we accelerate our growth plans in the world’s second-largest music market,” noted Robson. “Kaz and Kenji will work with him to ensure a smooth leadership transition. These appointments show our commitment to expanding our operations in this vital market.”
The leadership shuffle at WMJ comes amid other high-level changes at Warner, including the recent promotions of chief marketing officer Eric Wong to head of A&R, recorded music, and evp of global marketing Jessica Keeley-Carter to CMO, recorded music. As part of a sweeping summer of change, WMG CEO of recorded music Max Lousada exited the company, and Elliot Grainge was named as the new CEO of Atlantic Music Group, while WMG CEO Robert Kyncl assumed direct oversight of the heads of global distribution company ADA and merch division WMX. Longtime Atlantic leader Julie Greenwald, 300 Elektra Entertainment chairman/CEO Kevin Liles and a host of senior Atlantic and Elektra executives also departed the company, among other moves.
