Johannes von Schwarzkopf Appointed Chief Strategy Officer at BMG
Portfolio - People | Jan 24, 2025 | EIN
BMG has announced the appointment of Johannes von Schwarzkopf as the new Chief Strategy Officer. Reporting directly to CEO Thomas Coesfeld, Schwarzkopf will lead the development and execution of BMG’s global strategy, ensuring the company capitalizes on new growth opportunities, including strategic M&A, while continuing to manage its licensing and sync business. Since joining BMG in 2021, Schwarzkopf has significantly contributed to the company’s M&A initiatives, participating in BMG’s boost investment program which has seen the acquisition of ten music catalogs in the first half of 2024, culminating in a total investment of approximately 900 million euros. Schwarzkopf was key in developing the BMG Next strategy, enhancing BMG’s position as a progressive music company tailored to the evolving needs of artists. Having previously worked as an M&A advisor at EY and in media sales at Taboola, Schwarzkopf’s new role is expected to further solidify BMG’s leadership in the global music market.
Sectors
- Music Industry
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- Private Equity
Geography
- Germany – BMG is headquartered in Germany, and the strategic decisions and leadership changes are central to its operations there.
- United States – The introduction of the US Frontline Recorded structure in 2024 highlights BMG’s strategic and operational focus in the United States.
Industry
- Music Industry – BMG operates within the music industry, managing music rights and developing strategies to support artists and songwriters.
- Mergers & Acquisitions – BMG actively engages in M&A activities, acquiring music catalogs and shaping global strategic growth initiatives.
- Private Equity – The appointment and strategic focus highlight investment activities and corporate development typically associated with private equity practices.
Financials
- €900 million – Total investment in music catalog acquisitions by BMG since 2021 under the boost investment program.
Participants
| Name | Role | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| BMG | Target Company | Company | BMG is a global music company engaged in music rights management and strategic development in the music industry. |
| Johannes von Schwarzkopf | Chief Strategy Officer | Person | Recently appointed as Chief Strategy Officer, he oversees BMG's global strategy and M&A activities. |
| Thomas Coesfeld | CEO | Person | Current CEO of BMG, overseeing strategic direction and leadership of the company. |
| EY | M&A Advisor | Company | Consulting firm where Johannes von Schwarzkopf previously worked as an M&A transaction advisor. |
| Taboola | Former Employer | Company | Advertising technology company where Johannes von Schwarzkopf worked in media sales. |
| NMPA | Conference Host | Company | National Music Publishers' Association, hosted the conference where BMG's strategy was discussed. |