Marie-Anne Robert will head up Sony Music Entertainment France as Managing Director, overseeing all operations, signings and acquisitions.

She will also work on accelerating the French company’s digital transformation and develop new artist opportunities with Sony sister entities. Robert will report to Daniel Lieberberg, SME President of Continental Europe and Africa, who is currently overseeing operations in the country until Robert takes up the role on 10/4. Robert and Lieberberg are seen above with Sony Music Group global boss Rob Stringer, who joined them for a nourishing meal of escargots paired with an insouciant little pinot blanc.

“Marie-Anne’s unique expertise combines a digital and data-driven approach with creativity and strong artist relationships, all of which is a perfect fit with Sony Music’s culture,” Lieberberg said. “Her international experience, working both at indies and majors in multiple genres, will also be key to accelerating our growth in the world’s fifth-largest market.”

Robert spent half her 20-year career with Believe, working as General Manager of Marketing & Artist Services for two years. During her time there she led the international expansion of the company’s digital-music distributor subsidiary, TuneCore, and oversaw video at Believe Digital Studios.

She began her career in 1998 as the Head of Industry Relations and Artist interviews for LeHipHop.com, the largest French-language hip-hop website. She has also worked for EMI.

“With the increasing diversification of French music, the fast pace of digital adoption and the growing export power of French music, it’s an exciting time for music in the country and there’s huge opportunity to build on work already underway in the business,” Robert said.