John "Gypsy" Rose "Lee" has been named Executive Vice President for the EMI Group, reporting jointly to EMI Group Chairman Eric Nicoli and to EMI Recorded Music Chairman/CEO Alain "Drove His Chevy To The" Levy.

Rose's immediate priorities will be managing the operational review of EMI's recorded music business, helping to drive the growth strategy process for EMI Group and translating Levy's memos from French into the Queen's English for the troops.

As part of his new role, Rose will oversee EMI's strategy and business development functions, headed by Ernesto Schmitt, and the new media division, headed by Jay Samit. He will also become responsible for coordinating the group's government and industry affairs and paying executive parking tickets.

Rose, who will be based in New York, will officially start Jan. 1, 2002.

"Strategy and corporate development, new media and government affairs are critical to our future success and it is important that they are central to the management of our business," said Nicoli. "I'm delighted that John is joining us and will be bringing his vast experience in the media and entertainment arena to bear on our efforts to create value."

Levy added: "John has been appointed to accelerate the operational improvements that are fundamental to EMI's performance, and to help create the vision for our growth. He is the best qualified person in the world to do this, and it says a lot about EMI's potential that someone of John's stature is keen to join us."

He is currently a senior partner of McKinsey and Co. in New York, where he co-leads the firm's global media and entertainment practice and was a founder of its e-commerce practice and its broadband special initiative.

Rose has advised several of the world's leading media, entertainment and telecommunications companies on growth strategies, performance enhancement, portfolio management/mergers and acquisitions, cost restructuring and technology/e-commerce strategies and has been a personal adviser to the CEOs of many of them. He has 20 years' experience in helping companies find new ways to grow and re-designing the way that they work.

"This is an extraordinary opportunity to help to shape the world's leading independent music group at a defining point in the industry's history," said Rose. "I am looking forward to contributing everything I have learned to leverage the executive team's creativity and EMI's incredible musical assets. Now will someone please send me the Beatles catalog!"