EMI takes Ames in latest bid to revive its US operation.

by Martin Talbot EMI Group CEO Eric Nicoli's move to appoint Roger Ames as his new North American chairman adds the final touches to a global senior management team with a particularly British flavour.

Nicoli took over the global music company in January with the vision of creating a global top team, capable of acting quickly and decisively to set priorities and take action. And, as EMI Music North American chairman, Ames joins UK & Ireland chairman Tony Wadsworth and chairman/CEO EMI Music International Jean-Francois Cecillon on Nicoli's team - all former UK major chiefs.

Sources close to Nicoli in January talked of his aim to create a "delayered" company, replacing a previously unwieldy decision-making structure with a faster-moving team to reflect the changing music industry environment.

The US company, which will come under Ames's jurisdiction, has certainly been delayered; in his three months overseeing the market - since the departure of Alain Levy and David Munns on January 12 - Nicoli had overseen a string of changes.

The departure last week of North American COO Ivan Gavin, in parallel with Ames's arrival, means three of the company's most senior executives have left the company, following Munns (who had held the title of North American chairman) and Capitol Records' chairman/CEO Andy Slater. Among those reporting to Ames will be Jason Flom, who took over as chairman and CEO of Capitol Music Group in January, moving across from the same role at Virgin US. Flom's new group - established as part of the #110m annual savings programme announced in January - comprises the Virgin and Capitol imprints.

Blue Note president/CEO Bruce Lundvall and North American CFO Colin Finkelstein will also report to Ames, along with the heads of EMI Music Marketing, Capitol Nashville, EMI Christian Music Group, Caroline Distribution and EMI ...