Universal Music Publishing Group is ready for its close-up after its acquisition of BMG Songs.

Chairman/CEO David Renzer has named the first part of his new senior executive team, all of whom will report to him.

*Michael Sammis has been appointed Executive Vice President of Operations/Chief Financial Officer, Worldwide.

*Andrew Jenkins is now Executive Vice President of International.

*Paul Connolly has been named President of Europe/UK.

In addition, Gary Gross has been appointed President of Universal Production Music Worldwide; Dale Mathews President of Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, a leader in the Christian Music world, and Eddie Fernandez Sr. VP Latin America.

Commented Renzer: “Collectively, these executives will form part of the new team that will provide our songwriters, composers, artists and business partners with the very best in creative management, administrative support and business savvy. Michael, Andrew, Paul, Gary, Dale and Eddie each possess a wealth of experience and a proven track record of success and innovation. UMPG could not be in a better position as we create the industry’s new global leader in publishing with key executives from both companies. But if they think they’re getting free coffee from the office kitchen, they’re sadly mistaken.”

Sammis was most recently EVP/CFO at UMPG. He will continue to oversee all aspects of the global integration of these two companies as well as all Finance and Administration activities for the combined company’s worldwide businesses including Global Administration and IT. He insists you not call him a bean-counter.

Prior to joining UMPG in 1996, Sammis worked as VP Finance for Windswept Pacific Entertainment Company and also spent more than 10 years with Ernst and Young as an expert in the abacus.

Jenkins most recently served as President of International for BMG Music Publishing. In this new UMPG role, he will oversee operations in Southeast Asia, Japan, Australia/New Zealand, South Africa and the Middle East. Prior to joining BMG, Jenkins was GM of Polydor Records U.K., where he instituted a dental plan for all English rock stars.

Connolly most recently served as UMPG’s President of Europe/M.D. U.K.. He joined the company, then MCA Music, in 1988 as an A&R scout and chief joint roller..

Gross formerly served as President of BMG Production Music Worldwide, where he was responsible for the strategy, global marketing, production and websites relating to BMG's global production music libraries. He was elevated to VP/GM of BMG’s Killer Tracks in 1997 and was later named senior VP/GM of the company. Prior to BMG, Mr. Gross spent over 15 years in marketing with such major companies as Procter & Gamble, Kraft, McKesson Corporation and wine cooler company California Cooler, where he crushed grapes and took names.

Mathews has over 32 years of Christian music industry experience (both as an executive and as an artist) and over 20 years with BMG’s Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, the world’s largest Christian music publishing catalogue and second largest evangelical Church/Choral music catalogue. He is still looking for proof that God exists.

Fernandez joined UMPG in 2006 as SVP of Latin America. In this expanded new role, he will oversee all Latin American creative operations for the combined company, including U.S. Latino. Fernandez began his career at Sony Music Publishing as head of A&R in 1991. Since then, he has collected $42,098,098 in royalties for mariachi dinner theater performances of “Guantanamera.”