Former boss steps in to helm a slimline Echo.(News)

Chrysalis Music division CEO Jeremy Lascelles is assuming day-to-day control of The Echo Label following the exit of its two most senior executives.

Echo managing director John Chuter and A&R director Darrin Woodford will both leave the independent at the end of this week, putting Lascelles directly back in charge of an operation he first ran in 1998 when he took the role of managing director.

Lascelles, while regretful about the loss of staff, is optimistic about taking forward the label, which has also pruned its roster in the last few weeks. "I'm genuinely sorry to see both John and Darrin leave," he says. "Their contributions and loyalty to The Echo Label have been considerable."

Lascelles adds he is keen to look at new ways of operating that will reduce standard costs at the label. "We're looking at ways of signing and developing things in a different way," he says. "Signing and marketing is always the most expensive part of running a label and that's what we'll be looking at. I see the future of the label is working with a small focused roster and a small focused staff."

In related changes, Hugo Turguet has been promoted to the post of senior A&R manager, reporting directly to Lascelles. Turquet has been with The ...