David McPherson, welcome to Sony Music Urban.

That’s the new division announced by just-named Sony Music U.S. President Don Ienner "dedicated to nurturing and developing Urban talent on behalf of the company’s U.S. labels and divisions." The staff will be drawn from both Columbia and Epic.

As Executive Vice President Urban Music, McPherson will oversee all activities for the new division, including A&R, artist development, urban promotion, urban marketing and planning the menu for the weekly department meeting. He’ll work closely with the company’s labels in developing overall marketing and promotion strategies, while reporting to Ienner. The move had been expected.

"From Destiny’s Child to Macy Gray, Nas, Ginuwine, Killer Mike, B2K and Amerie, Sony Music already plays a pivotal role in the development of R&B, soul, rap and hip-hop," Ienner said. "In order to further increase our effectiveness in this area, we’ve created a new division that combines the very best executive talent from Columbia and Epic. David McPherson, who will lead this new team, has a well-deserved reputation as one of the most passionate and dedicated professionals in the business, and I have every confidence that under his guidance, Sony Urban Music will lead the industry in identifying, developing and marketing Urban talent—along with teaching me how to breakdance, pop and lock."

McPherson was most recently Exec. VP A&R and Urban Music for Epic Records Group, serving as an A&R resource for all ERG labels, in addition to heading the Group’s Urban Music department and scalping tickets to Celine Dion’s Las Vegas shows. Prior to that, he was Sr. VP A&R Urban Music for Epic and 550 Music, working with such acts as Mandy Moore, Ruff Endz, Ghostface Killah and Jon B.

McPherson began his career in 1991 at Mercury, then joined Jive, eventually rising to VP A&R, bringing Backstreet Boys and Joe to the label.