Believe UK Reinforces Senior Management Team With Raft Of Promotions

05 April 2023 - Press release

Ben Rimmer appointed Regional Director Label and Artist Solutions, Believe UK & Northern Europe
Malena Wolfer promoted to Director of Artist Services, Believe UK
Panos Polimatidis becomes Head of Label and Artist Solutions, Believe UK

The UK office of Believe, one of the world’s leading digital music companies, has made a string of senior promotions to power future growth and support its burgeoning local team.

Malena Wolfer has been promoted from Head of Artist Services, Believe UK to Director of Artist Services, Believe UK. Her new position will see her focus on high-profile signings and partnerships, and explore joint venture opportunities to help supercharge Believe’s UK growth.

Having held previous roles with Sony Music, Wolfer joined Believe UK in 2016 and has since helped to restructure and substantially grow the team’s Artist Services business unit. She has been instrumental in key artist signings, including Yonaka, James Morrison, Sainte, Girli, La Roux, Låpsley and UK rapper Knucks, notably leading on the campaign for his MOBO-winning 2022 debut album, ALPHA PLACE. Wolfer will continue to report to Believe UK MD Alex Kennedy.

Ben Rimmer has been promoted from Label & Artist Solutions Director, Believe UK to Regional Director Label & Artist Solutions , Believe UK & Northern Europe, also reporting to Alex Kennedy. In his new role, Rimmer will be charged with bringing the same rapid growth to Believe’s operations in Benelux and Scandinavia that he has helped drive in the UK.

Since joining Believe in 2012, Rimmer has strengthened the dance and electronic sector signing flagship partnerships with Cr2, Big Top, College, and, most recently, Hospital. He has also developed a community of modern independent alternative labels such as Communion, House Anxiety, and Scruff of the Neck. Prior, Ben was the first to sign deals with Lizzo, Wesley Joseph, Royel Otis, and Novo Amor and has led platinum projects Queen, Björk, Gavin James, Courtney Barnett, and Matt Sassari. He is a previous AIM Board member and Music Week Award winner.

Panos Polimatidis has been promoted from Head of Artist Relations, Believe UK to Head of Label and Artist Solutions, Believe UK. Reporting to newly-promoted Label & Artist Solutions Director Ben Rimmer, Polimatidis will be responsible for new business development across both the label and artist distribution divisions, and will oversee the client relationship management team.

Polimatidis has been with Believe UK since 2012 and has launched and headed up its Artist Distribution department. As well as signing acts such as Mura Masa, Nia Archives, Bru-C and Fumez The Engineer, he has worked on campaigns for Flume’s Grammy-winning 2016 album, Skin, and other projects with Wesley Joseph, Nao, Vistas, Lane 8, and Flight Facilities.

The promotions follow the hiring of Karishma Anand, Managing Director Operations, Believe UK, in November 2022. Bringing over 18 years of experience across multiple industries, including senior roles with Mitie, Transport For London, Colt and BT, Anand now oversees Believe UK’s Operations, Finance, HR and Legal departments.

Together, the newly strengthened UK senior management team will help support Believe’s strong growth trajectory in the region, which contributed to a recorded revenue growth of +27.6% in Europe (ex. France and Germany) for the Group over the last financial year. This will allow Believe to continue to best serve the fast-growing independent community, which now represents nearly 30% of the UK market.

Alex Kennedy, Managing Director at Believe UK, said: “Ben, Malena and Panos have together been the engine behind our success in the UK over the last decade and could not be more deserving of their promotions. Together with Karishma, our new MDO, our senior team is complete and primed to lead Believe UK to the next level.”

Ben Rimmer, Regional Director Label & Artist Solutions, Believe UK & Northern Europe, commented: “After ten years of building, it feels like we've arrived. It's been a wonderful period bringing the UK business to maturity alongside such a special team. To be given the Northern Europe region to build and further responsibility within the UK leadership team is extremely fulfilling. There's never been a better time to be independent and with the trust of our artists and labels and backing of Alex Kennedy and Romain Becker (President, Label & Artist Solutions, Believe (Group)), I'm motivated to help drive Believe UK and Northern Europe to new heights."

Malena Wolfer, Director of Artist Services, Believe UK, said: “I’m really excited about the opportunity to play a role in Believe’s ongoing growth and expansion in the UK and to work with our amazing team to build upon the great work we have done to date. My passion has always been supporting artists in growing their audiences and business, and I really look forward to continuing this work with our amazing roster of artists.”

Panos Polimatidis, Head of Distribution, Label and Artist Solutions, at Believe UK, added: “It’s been a fantastic ten year journey of steadily building Believe UK’s presence and business, but we really are just getting started. I’m delighted to further contribute to the growth of Believe UK along with such an amazing leadership team and colleagues, and help build the next generation of true independent labels and artists via our premium offering.”