Concord's Boosey & Hawkes Announces Leadership Transition: Janis Susskind OBE Passes the Baton to Steven Lankenau

06 November 2025 - Press release

 

• Managing Director Janis Susskind OBE concludes a distinguished 46-year career at Boosey & Hawkes
• Steven Lankenau appointed President, continuing the company's legacy of championing the world's leading composers

Boosey & Hawkes, a Concord company and the gold standard in classical music publishing, today announced a leadership transition set for 2026. Janis Susskind OBE will conclude her tenure as Managing Director in June 2026, following an extraordinary 46-year career with the company. Senior Vice President Steven Lankenau, a veteran publishing executive who has been with Boosey & Hawkes for 15 years, will become President on 1 January 2026 and assume full leadership of international operations from 1 July 2026.

Home to over 5,000 composers and more than 20,000 works, Boosey & Hawkes stands at the heart of the classical world—representing both the timeless and the transformative—from Béla Bartók, Leonard Bernstein, Benjamin Britten, and Igor Stravinsky to John Adams, Unsuk Chin, and Steve Reich.

The Boosey & Hawkes catalogue continues to shape music on stage and in popular culture. Recent film and advertising highlights include Igor Stravinsky's ballet scores underpinning Wes Anderson's The Phoenician Scheme; John Adams's music featuring in Luca Guadagnino's After the Hunt; and Karl Jenkins's music in L'Oréal's global ad campaign—emphasising how Boosey & Hawkes and Concord expand the reach of classical music worldwide.

Susskind joined Boosey & Hawkes in 1980, rising through the ranks to become Managing Director in 2012. Throughout her career, Susskind was instrumental in the company's growth and transformation. In 2003, she served on the executive team that guided Boosey & Hawkes through its transition from public to private ownership, securing its independence and future success. She championed a bold international strategy for promoting composers, driving a more than threefold increase in new-music revenues since 2004.

Under Susskind's leadership, Boosey & Hawkes solidified its position as the world's foremost classical publisher while expanding globally within the Concord family. Recent publishing agreements with Joe Hisaishi, Jeanine Tesori, and Joan Armatrading reflect the company's forward-looking strategy—investing in diverse, world-class talent to strengthen Boosey & Hawkes's position as a global publishing powerhouse.

Janis Susskind, Managing Director, Boosey & Hawkes, commented:

"When I fell down the rabbit hole into the wondrous world of music publishing all those years ago, I discovered the ideal environment for my interests and abilities. A fascination with music and the contemporary creative arts, international perspective, and a natural bent for making connections meant that I'd found my métier. And what an extraordinary catalogue awaited me at Boosey & Hawkes—a veritable roll call of the 20th century greats, ripe for development with new signings.

"A few things I'm proud of? Hiring gifted people and enabling them to develop and do sterling work, opening new vistas for our extraordinary composers and earning the trust of performers and music programmers; demonstrating time and again the growth potential of contemporary classical music in today's world. I am delighted that Steven Lankenau will be carrying the baton forward and I look forward to achieving a smooth transfer over the next six months."

As Boosey & Hawkes approaches its centenary in 2030, Steven Lankenau will continue this legacy—further strengthening the company's global operations and commitment to artistic excellence.

Lankenau joined Boosey & Hawkes in 2010 and became Senior Vice President in 2021, overseeing all artistic and business operations in North and South America. He has led global campaigns, including "Leonard Bernstein at 100," generating over 5,700 performances worldwide; signed composers including MacArthur "Genius" Courtney Bryan and multi-GRAMMY winning Gabriela Ortiz; while overseeing major estates such as Aaron Copland and Alberto Ginastera.

He has also played a key role in integrating Boosey & Hawkes into Concord after its 2017 acquisition—aligning catalogue, operations, and strategy within Concord's global publishing enterprise.

Steven Lankenau, Senior Vice President, Boosey & Hawkes commented:

"My first big project upon joining Boosey & Hawkes in 2010 was the Benjamin Britten centenary. Encouraging performances of Peter Grimes? Yes, please! In the subsequent 15 years, I've had the honor of working with American icons such as John Adams, Elliott Carter, Carlisle Floyd, Osvaldo Golijov, and Steve Reich, and to be part of the journey of composers like Anna Clyne and Gabriela Ortiz as they became major international figures. My love for this music has always come naturally, and I carry that passion forward as I help shepherd this historic publishing house into its next chapter.

"It has been an immense privilege to work alongside Janis Susskind, whose leadership, mentorship, and friendship have been a highlight of my career. Her legacy will be deeply felt as we approach Boosey & Hawkes's centenary in 2030."

Jim Selby, Chief Publishing Executive, Concord, added:

"Janis Susskind's leadership has embodied the values that make Boosey & Hawkes unique—vision, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to composers and their music. Her guidance has preserved the company's remarkable heritage while ensuring it continues to evolve as a vibrant leader in classical music publishing. 

"As we look to the future, Concord remains committed to Boosey & Hawkes's continued growth as a dynamic global force, powered by exceptional teams in London, New York, and Berlin. The appointment of Steven Lankenau as President marks an exciting moment, honoring the traditions and fabric of what makes Boosey & Hawkes so storied while embracing the opportunities to shape its next great era." 

As Boosey & Hawkes looks toward its 100th anniversary in 2030, the company remains a cornerstone of Concord's global publishing family—bridging heritage and innovation and redefining what classical music means in the 21st century.