You can call him Ray, but his real name is Ronnie.

Ronnie Johnson has been promoted to Executive Vice President of Atlantic Records by Co-Chairman/COO Craig Kallman and President Julie Greenwald, to whom he jointly reports.

Johnson, who joined Atlantic in 1999, had been Senior Vice President/GM of the company’s Urban Division since January 2002.

Commented Kallman: "Since joining Atlantic five years ago, Ronnie has grown to become one of the linchpins of the company. He has done a phenomenal job in creating an Urban music department that is the envy of the industry, while being the driving force behind a remarkable string of breakthrough artist success stories. During the label’s transition over the past few months, Ronnie has played a key role in determining the overall direction of the company, and has taken on an expanded role in the evolution of the new Atlantic. This is a much-deserved promotion for a great guy and a great executive. And when I meet him, I'm going to tell him just that."

Stated Greenwald: "Ronnie is a super-talented music executive with terrific hands-on experience in promotion, marketing and artist development. He is an inspirational motivator of his troops, and a down-to-earth guy who knows exactly what it takes to get the job done. I am thrilled to have him as my partner as Atlantic begins this exciting new era. And one day, he may even get to meet Ahmet."

Atlantic Chairman/CEO Jason Flom commented: "One of the most important goals of the new Atlantic is to dissolve boundaries between departments and musical genres. Ronnie is not just a great Urban music executive—he is a great music executive, period. In the course of his 15 years in this business, he has earned the admiration and respect of artists, managers and executives throughout our industry. Now, in his new post, Ronnie brings his knowledge, creativity, and insight to the entire Atlantic family. I can't wait to turn him on to my rare, live Twisted Sister tapes."

Ronnie Johnson began his music industry career in 1989, when he joined the Reprise division of Warner Bros. Records, serving first as Southwest Regional R&B Promotion Manager and then as National Director of R&B Promotion. In 1992, he moved to Polygram Label Group, where he was Senior National Director of R&B Promotion before being appointed VP R&B Promotion for Island Records in 1995 and subsequently holding the same post at Mercury Records. He was named Sr. VP of R&B Promotion for Motown Records in 1998. Johnson joined Atlantic Records in 1999 as Sr. VP Urban Promotion.

Prior to his music industry career, Johnson was VP, Special Assets Group for First Union Corporation of Georgia. He holds a B.A. degree in Business Administration from Georgia State University.