Paul-Rene Albertini has been upped to President, Warner Music International, effective Oct. 1, said the company's Chairman/CEO Stephen Shrimpton, to whom he will report.

Albertini joined WMI in December 2000 as President Warner Music Europe and in his new role he will be responsible for all WMI’s activities and operations located in Asia Pacific, Canada, Europe and Latin America.

"Naming Paul-Rene Albertini as President of WMI reflects the important growth of our international operations and business over recent years," Shrimpton said. "He will bring great expertise, experience and vision to the role and these are essential ingredients for the further development and success of WMI in the challenging times ahead."

Shrimpton added, "In the past two years Albertini has successfully revitalized our European operations and this new appointment, reflecting our policy of management continuity, will ensure WMI is properly structured and focused to meet the future demands of the global music business."

Albertini began his career as a concert promoter and independent producer while still a student in France before joining Polygram as International Label Manager in 1983.

Three years later he became Marketing Director for Barclay and was appointed Managing Director Phonogram France in 1989. In 1991, he took the role of CEO Polygram Disques France before moving to Sony Music France as President & CEO in 1994. He was named Executive Vice President Sony Music Entertainment Europe in late 1998 before switching to WMI.