Universal Publishing CEO Jody Gerson Joins Board of Ancestry

Jody Gerson, the US-based chairman and CEO of Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG), is now a director on the board of Ancestry, the family history specialist.

Gerson, who is appointed an independent member of the Ancestry board of directors, is seen as a real catch for the company, thanks to her extensive background in storytelling and culture.

“Jody Gerson is a visionary leader whose transformative impact on the music industry is matched only by her unwavering commitment to creativity, inclusion, and innovation,” comments Ancestry board chair Mark Thompson.

“Her deep understanding of storytelling and culture makes her an invaluable addition to Ancestry’s board as we continue to help people discover, preserve, and share their unique family stories.”

Gerson joined UMPG in 2015, becoming the first female chairman of a global music company and the first woman to lead a major music publisher.

Across her career, Gerson has signed and worked with the likes of Adele, Elton John, Kendrick Lamar, Taylor Swift, and The Weeknd, and forged catalog acquisitions for artists such as Bob Dylan, Neil Diamond, and Sting.

Prior to joining UMPG, Gerson served as co-president of Sony/ATV Music Publishing, and on the senior management team at EMI Music Publishing before that.

“As someone who has dedicated my career to helping artists tell their stories through song, I deeply value Ancestry’s commitment to empowering individuals to discover and share their own,” comments Gerson in a statement.

“By connecting families and bridging generations through personal history, Ancestry is making a profound cultural and personal impact—and I look forward to contributing to that mission.”

Gerson has appeared on Billboard’s Power 100 List every year from 2016 to 2025, when she came in at No. 11 on the leaderboard. The publishing exec has appeared on the Variety 500 every year from 2017-2024, and in 2020 was named by Billboard as “Executive of the Year.”

Ancestry is the world-leading genealogy website that provides tools and resources for researching family history, boasting a collection of more than 65 billion records, over 3 million subscribers and upwards of 27 million people in its growing DNA network.