As part of its ongoing realignment of operations, Downtown Music has announced new appointments to help centralize its global new-markets strategy. Sheer Music Africa MD David Alexander has been named SVP, while Heli Del Moral will serve as VP of the company's newly created New Markets team, responsible for global growth strategy.

The announcement follows recent news of Downtown’s strategic shift to focus exclusively on services and the reconfiguration of its portfolio of distribution, rights-management and promotional divisions.

Downtown acquired the South Africa-based Sheer last year, which formally expanded the company’s geographic footprint to Africa. Alexander will continue to manage Sheer Music Africa until a successor can be found, in addition to his new role; he will report to Downtown EVP of Global Business Andrew Sparkler.

“David’s deep expertise building the largest independent music publisher on the African continent, his knowledge of the global music industry and his passion for supporting creators make him ideally suited to lead our new-markets strategy. The added partnership and support from Heli, with his impressive track record growing international operations in Latin America and India, is an ideal complement,” said Sparkler.

Del Moral previously led CD Baby’s international operations, which have expanded to include India, South Africa and Latin America. CD Baby currently represents nearly 200,000 Latin artists, including Dominican dembow star El Alfa.

Pictured top right: David Alexander; middle left, Heli Del Moral