Rob "First" Stringer has been appointed Chairman/CEO for Sony BMG Music Entertainment U.K. & Ireland by Tim Bowen, who has responsibility for the company’s operations in the U.K., Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

Said Bowen: “Rob is ideally suited to lead the new U.K. company into the future. He has both a complete grasp of the business and a real empathy with artists. We worked together at Columbia at the beginning of the '90s when he headed up the A&R team and I very much look forward to working with him again and his leading Sony BMG U.K. to a hugely successful future. And, what's more, he saves us money by bathing only once a week and drinking his beer warm.”

Bowen came from the BMG side, but he appoints a Sony Music guy to head the all-important U.K./Ireland territory. Stringer is the brother of Sony Corp. of America Chairman/CEO Sir Howard Stringer, but preceded him at the company.

Stringer most recently served as Sony Music U.K. & Ireland Chairman/CEO since Fall 2000. During that time, the company enjoyed success with a wide range of acts, including Anastacia, Big Brovaz, Charlotte Church, the Coral, Destiny’s Child, Delta Goodrem and, most recently, George Michael.

He was Epic U.K. Managing Director for eight years, experiencing multi-platinum success with records by B*Witched, Celine Dion, Macy Gray, the Lightning Seeds, Sade and the Manic Street Preachers, whom he signed in 1991 and whose award-winning career he has personally overseen.

Previously, he held a number of marketing and A&R positions at Columbia, where he worked with acts as diverse as Bros, Terence Trent D’Arby, Deacon Blue, Alison Moyet, Prefab Sprout and Paul Young.

In addition to his responsibilities at Sony Music, Mr. Stringer currently serves on the BPI Council, the BRITS Committee, the Chart Supervisory Committee and is a director of the Official Chart Company.