FERDY UNGER-HAMILTON NAMED PRESIDENT OF COLUMBIA RECORDS UK

31 October 2016 - Press release

Jason Iley, Chairman and CEO, Sony Music UK and Ireland, today announced Ferdy Unger-Hamilton, widely considered one of the music industry’s leading executives, as the new President of Columbia Records in the UK. He takes charge of the iconic label next Monday [07.11] and will report directly to Iley.

He joins Columbia Records UK following seven years as President of Polydor, where he enjoyed global success with Ellie Goulding, Lana Del Rey, Haim, The 1975, Years & Years and Michael Kiwanuka as well as releasing Take That’s Progress, which became the third fastest selling album in UK history.

During his career, Unger-Hamilton has built an illustrious reputation for discovering and developing artists. In 1992, he launched Go! Beat Records and enjoyed critical and commercial success with Portishead and Gabrielle. He co-wrote the No.1 single, Rise, the title track of Gabrielle’s third and most successful album.

He moved to Island Records where he worked in close partnership with Iley. Together, they launched Keane, whose debut album, Hopes and Fears, won Best British Album at the 2005 BRIT Awards and sold more than six million copies globally.

Ferdy Unger-Hamilton said: “I was about 13 years old when I first heard Bob Dylan after my mum left a cassette of Biograph lying around. Columbia Records changed my life! 

“It has always been the ultimate artist company. The US team has done such an incredible job - and you can't imagine how much it means to me to be asked by Jason to lead the UK company. I will try to do it justice.”

Jason Iley said: “Ferdy is a true artists’ man; someone who has an unparalleled track record for nurturing and breaking artists on a global scale. I am delighted to have such a world-class executive joining Columbia Records and am also particularly looking forward to renewing our working relationship, which has proved so successful in the past.”

Columbia Records is the oldest living record company in the world and the most revered, with a roster including many of the most lauded and iconic artists of all-time.

Unger-Hamilton will also have a joint venture, as yet un-named, in partnership with Sony Music UK. 

Iley added: “Ferdy succeeds Alison Donald and Mark Terry who have both now left the company. I would like to thank Alison and Mark for all their hard work over the last few years – and wish them well for the future.”