Former Universal Music chief Max Hole back in the biz

A year after stepping down as CEO and Chairman of the Universal Music Group International (UMGI) due to health issues, Max Hole has returned to the music biz.

Overnight, west London state of the art Metropolis Studios announced he was joining its board as non-executive Chairman.

He will utilise his experience and contacts from a lengthy music career to advice the company on strategy across its music and wider entertainment alliances including events, labels, publishing and the Academy of Contemporary Music.

Ian Brenchley, CEO at Metropolis Studios said: “We are at an exciting juncture for the company as our portfolio of businesses across production, management, publishing and labels have diversified cementing our ethos of Metropolis as a truly progressive and 360 music company.

“To have Max share our vision and enthusiasm is a real privilege.”

Hole began his career in the early ‘70s as co-founder of management and booking agency Gemini Artists.

In 1982 he headed A&R at East West Records, and in 1990 became its Managing Director for the Warner Music imprint where Simply Red was one of his first big successes.

In 1998 he shifted to Universal Music, as SVP for marketing and A&R for its international division. As EVP from 2004, he helped break or consolidate acts as U2, Bon Jovi, Sting, Amy Winehouse, Queen, Lionel Richie, Snow Patrol, Justin Bieber, Andrea Bocelli, Juanes, Eminem, Gwen Stefani, Shania Twain and Bryan Adams.

He developed close ties with the Australian and New Zealand operations, overseeing Universal’s Asia/Pacific business. In 2010 he was promoted to COO of UMGI, becoming its Chairman and CEO three years later.

Hole said of his new role: “I’m very fortunate to have spent my life involved in many different aspects of the music business and having travelled extensively around the world.

“I love my new opportunity of helping the wonderful business built by chief executive Ian and his team at Metropolis.

“It’s a remarkable model that I find really exciting that is the basis of us building all aspects of managing, recording, publishing and breaking artists in the future.”