The man who helped spearhead the success of Leona Lewis, Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood and was instrumental in bringing the American Idol franchise to RCA Music Group is rising at Mercury.

Stephen Ferrera has been appointed Executive Vice President, A&R, Island and Mercury Records by Mercury President David Massey.

Ferrera will actively seek out, acquire and develop new talent, oversee recording projects from the creative standpoint, and solicit producers and repertoire on behalf of Island and Mercury artists, based in New York and reporting to Massey.

Said Ferrara: "David Massey and I are kindred spirits and our musical paths have crossed many times over the years. I intend to invest all of my heart into the pursuit of realizing our artists' musical potential and dreams. I'm grateful to David and to L.A. Reid for allowing me to bring my passion, ideas and experience into this new position, and for their generous offer of a Barney’s credit card.”

Added Massey: “Stephen is blessed with an impeccable reputation in the creative community. He is a song man par excellence and a respected and accomplished musician and producer in his own right. That strength has served him well as one of the most talented A&R executives in the industry. His abilities complement our growing team at Island and Mercury, and we are extremely pleased to have him aboard.”

Ferrera comes to IDJ from RCA Music Group, where he has served as SVP, A&R/Staff Producer, since 2000. Over the last eight years, Ferrera has A&R'd such projects as Clarkson's two-time Grammy award winning album Breakaway; Underwood's Some Hearts; Rod Stewart's American Songbook series; Heather Headley; Landon Pigg; Paula DeAnda; Eliane Elias, and Fourplay, among many others.

Prior to joining RCA, Mr. Ferrera was head of A&R/staff producer at Jazz & Classics for Capitol Records. He began his executive career in 1994, as head of A&R/producer at the Chrysalis Group’s UK record company The Echo Label, where he signed and developed such renowned British alternative artists as Moloko, Feeder, Julian Cope and Mono. A lifelong musician, songwriter, and producer, Ferrera has recorded with his own band for MCA Records and was an original member of Shakespeare’s Sister.