Denis Handlin to focus solely on ANZ region in 2020 & beyond

Widely respected Sony Music executive Denis Handlin will now focus exclusively on his role as chairman & CEO of Australia and New Zealand.

He will expand Sony Music’s portfolio of new business verticals in ANZ while continuing his impressive track record-breaking Australian and international acts.

With an uncanny knowledge of radio, formats and public taste, he made instinctive snap decisions on the signings of now-iconic acts like Delta Goodrem, Tina Arena, Human Nature, Rogue Traders, Pete Murray and Midnight Oil who went on to global multi-platinum success.

In more recent years, Handlin and the A&R team have expanded the roster to include Tones and I, Amy Shark, Gang of Youths, Tash Sultana and Ruel.

Handlin will also celebrate his 50th year at Sony in May this year and is the longest-serving senior executive gloablly.

Handlin had overseen the Asia Pacific region over the last ten years and continued to surge the company’s footprint as music markets open there.

Recent highlights included a successful joint venture label with Tencent Music – Liquid State – whose roster includes billion-stream star CORSAK.

Last year he oversaw the opening of Sony Music’s new HQ in Beijing, which boasts its own state-of-the-art recording studio.

“Denis has been very instrumental in our company’s development in this region and has assembled an excellent leadership team in Asia equipped to execute on our strategic initiatives and expand the progress on our commercial activities there,” said Sony Music Group chairman and CEO Rob Stringer.

Sony Music Entertainment announced January 23 that it is changing its structure in its Asia and Middle East operations as the region grows.

These will now become hubs under their own leaders who will report to the New York headquarters.

Shridhar Subramaniam, who has been head of Sony Music India for the past 18 years, is being relocated to New York in the newly created role of president, strategy and market development, Asia and Middle East.

Leading Sony Music’s business in China, Taiwan and Hong Kong will be its managing director, Andrew Chan.

Joseph Chang will continue in his role of managing director, Sony Music Entertainment Korea.

Ariel Fung will become executive vice president, SME Southeast Asia.

“Asia and the Middle East are key emerging drivers of the global music industry and an important part of our current and long-term success,” according to Stringer.

“This new structure will enhance collaboration with the regional leadership team to drive our strategic business and creative priorities.”