Gatfield named Prez of Sony UK

SIMON SAYS…HIRE NICK: We interrupt our regularly scheduled Grammy blogging for this news bulletin: Nick Gatfield will be named President of Music at Sony Music U.K. He’ll report to Sony Music U.K. & Ireland Chairman/CEO Ged Doherty, who will now be free to devote the bulk of his time and energy to Simon Cowell’s Syco label and TV empire, according to U.K. site BeehiveCity. It was Doherty who put together the deal between Sony and Cowell, which "will create a new long-term global venture to focus on the production and exploitation of music, TV, film and digital content." Gatfield, meanwhile, is claming credit for signing breakthrough acts Tinie Tempah and Eliza Doolittle during his 26-month stint as EMI’s President of New Music for North America, the U.K. and Ireland, which ended last September. Said Gatfield (or perhaps Sony’s corporate publicist), “I’m delighted to have the opportunity to work with Ged and the music team to further establish Sony U.K. as the natural destination for the best artists in the market and become the leading exporter of U.K. talent around the world.” (2/13p)