Tuer named COO of Sony UK

TUER IS THE ONE: Sony Music U.K. has formally named EVP Nicola Tuer Chief Operating Officer, effective immediately, confirming our report of 2/26. The company has yet to name a creative head to succeed Nick Gatfield, who exited abruptly last week. In her new role, Tuer will oversee the running of the U.K. operation, reporting to President/CEO of Sony Music International Edgar Berger, who offered his thoughts about the upwardly mobile exec. “Nicola’s competitive spirit, commercial acumen and passion for music are unrivalled in the business,” he said. “I am certain she will have enormous impact in leading the U.K. company to the next level.” Tuer’s own comment reads, “I am thrilled to have this opportunity. Sony is home to the most iconic labels and artists in the industry. Add to that our incredibly exciting roster of new artists and our dynamic executive team and we have all the ingredients to grow the company even further.” Starting as a record store manager at the tender age of 18, Tuer was headhunted into Sony Music’s sales team in 1995, rising rapidly through the ranks and eventually overseeing both catalog (or catalogue, as the Brits prefer to render it) and Sony’s Commercial Music Group. Under her guidance, the latter outfit had its most successful year of all time in 2013 behind sizable marketshare jumps in both legacy recordings and the U.K.’s fast-growing compilations market, bagging a nomination for Record Label of the Year—an industry first for a non-front line label. (3/3a)