Laura Monks appointed General Manager, Decca Records UK

09 October 2018 - Press release

 

Universal Music Group announces the promotion of Laura Monks to the role of General Manager of Decca Records.

Laura steps up to the new position after six years at Decca, starting as Senior Digital Campaign Manager, moving to Head of Digital in 2013, Director of Digital & Commercial Partnerships in 2015 and Director of Marketing & Commercial Partnerships in 2016. Laura will continue to report to Rebecca Allen, President of Decca Records.

Rebecca Allen says, “Laura is without doubt one of the most exciting executives in the industry. Her drive, leadership and passion for this business has strengthened Decca as a music company. Laura pushes me as a label Head and always has an eye on our future. She isn’t afraid to challenge and isn’t afraid to debate. I am so ridiculously happy for her and wouldn’t want anyone else by my side taking Decca forward”

Laura Monks says, "I am so proud to be taking on this role at Decca, such a historic label and home to a hugely diverse roster of artists - no day ever the same, every plan and challenge unique. There's nowhere like it! Cutting through and making a difference, taking people by surprise, is what we strive for and I'm excited to lead a team of incredibly passionate and driven individuals in taking on this challenge and the next that will come along."

After studying music at the University of Glasgow and the renowned McGill University in Montreal, Canada, Laura began her career at EMI Classics as Digital Assistant and left as International Digital Manager when she joined Decca Records in 2012. Moving through digital, commercial and marketing positions, Monks has had a fast adapting career based on the major changes in music consumption and marketing in recent years. Laura has worked alongside the team at Decca on hugely successful campaigns such as Ball & Boe, Gregory Porter, The Lumineers, Aurora, Andrea Bocelli and The Shires.

Sophie Hilton, currently Head of Marketing, will step up to become Director of Marketing and Visual Creative, Decca UK, reporting into Laura. Sophie Hilton is one of the most respected and experienced marketeers in the business. With a Music Week Marketing Award under her belt, and hugely successful campaigns with artists like Ball & Boe, Rod Stewart, The Lumineers and Andrea Bocelli, the marketing team at Decca will be strengthened by this new appointment. Decca would like to also congratulate Sophie on her new role.

Decca remains firmly at the forefront of the UK classical and jazz markets with its three labels Decca Records, Decca Classics and the newly-formed Mercury KX, alongside an expanded roster of affiliate label partners including Deutsche Grammophon, Verve, Blue Note, Universal Nashville and Concord.

In recent years, Decca Records has been selected as the official label partner of high profile events such as the Royal Wedding, the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and the London Olympics. The Decca roster includes an extraordinary array of the music world's greatest stars, among them Rod Stewart, Sheku Kanneh-Mason, Ludovico Einaudi, Katherine Jenkins, Alfie Boe, Nicola Benedetti and Joseph Calleja. Next year the label celebrates its 90th anniversary.