Jack Rovner is out as President of RCA Records.

The label veteran was on the job for a little more than a year. He was named to the post last February by BMG Entertainment N.A. President/CEO Bob Jamieson (see hitsdailydouble.com, 2/15/01) who will effectively take over running the label with his North American crew, putting to rest—for the time being—talk that RCA would be folded into another label in the music group.

As part of the move, BMG will dismantle its North American corporate operations. Jamieson will be named Chairman of a re-established RCA Music Group, orginally formed by BMG President/CEO Strauss Zelnick in May 2000, then discontinued upon his exit in December of the same year.

Under the new structure, RCA Records, BMG Canada, RCA Nashville, RCA Victor, the Heritage labels and Special Products will all report to Jamieson. In his new role, he will also be charged with creating and establishing new labels under the RCA Music Group umbrella. Nashville head Joe Galante, RCA Victor Group Exec. VP/GM David Weyner and BMG Canada chief Lisa Zbitnew will continue to report to Jamieson. Jamieson will continue to report directly to BMG CEO Rolf-Schmidt-Holtz as will Arista President/CEO Antonio "L.A." Reid, who previously reported to Jamieson. BMG Distribution chief Pete Jones will now report to BMG COO Michael Smellie.

Rovner was previously Jamieson’s #2 as ExecutiveVP/GM of the label and played a key role in developing such hit acts as Dave Matthews Band, Christina Aguilera, David Gray, The Calling, Vertical Horizon and, most recently, PoMo buzz band The Strokes and fast-breaking new rock act Trik Turner. Following a directive from corporate, he dismantled the label’s Urban department. With just over 12 months under his belt, Rovner’s exit is one more case of an executive given control over a label and then not allowed the time to succeed.

This marks the latest in a series of corporate executive moves by BMG to find effective leadership for its North American labels following the shake-up caused by the departures of Michael Dornemann and Zelnick, and the subsequent death of Rudi Gassner in December 2000 (see hitsdailydouble.com, 12/23/00).

Jamieson, who was previously President of the label, was named head of BMG’s North American operations January '01 (see hitsdailydouble.com, 1/16) by Schmidt-Holtz. Jamieson then named Rovner as his heir apparent. Last July, Rovner tapped Richard Sanders as his Executive VP/GM (see hitsdailydouble.com, 7/12). He is expected to stay on in his current post. No further staff cuts are expected at this time.

Rovner was named RCA's Exec. VP/GM in 1995. Before joining the label, Rovner was Sr. VP at Arista Records and worked in Columbia Records’ marketing department.