David “Critical” Massey has been crowned king of Sony's worldwide A&R universe.

The veteran record exec has been named Sony Music U.S. and Sony Music International's Executive Vice President of A&R by Sony Music U.S. President Don “Here’s Mud in Your” Ienner and SMI President Rick Dobbis “Damn Sports Show,” respectively.

Massey, based in both N.Y. and London, will work closely with both company heads, but primarily with Ienner in shaping the U.S. labels' strategic direction in regard to artist development. He will sign and develop artists for Columbia Records Group, Epic Records and Sony Music Nashville. He'll also continue to develop Daylight Records, his ERG label, which just signed Cyndi Lauper to a roster that includes Anastacia, Good Charlotte and Phantom Planet. Additionally, he'll develop artists for SMI affiliates and help identify locally successful artists and projects for cross-border campaigns.

Massey was most recently Sr. VP A&R for Sony Music Entertainment, working with Travis, Silverchair, Korn, Lara Fabian, Play and Oasis—keeping the Gallagher brothers from stabbing each other.

Commented Ienner: "David has a great set of ears, a solid understanding of the music marketplace and a creative approach that provides his artists with a true competitive edge. Not only that, but he can whip up a toro sushi hand roll at a moment's notice. We're now perfectly positioned to expand our domestic A&R efforts, while developing new audiences in the U.S. for the company's international successes. And when he sings 'Time After Time' at our weekly karaoke sessions, there’s not a dry eye in the room."

Said Dobbis: "David embraces music and artists from all cultures. His expanded role will bring our global company closer together and improve the opportunity for our artists to achieve global success by being able to order pizza in the native language at every recording studio around the world."

Added Massey: "I look forward to working closely with the creative teams at our U.S. labels and Rick Dobbis and SMI affiliates as we continue to expand the company's presence in markets around the world—not to mention the frequent-flyer mileage I'll rack up."

Massey was Exec. VP A&R Epic Records Group from '99-01. Prior to that, he was Exec. VP/GM for the label, which he joined 1991. He formerly owned a London-based artist management company and the indie label Big World Records.