Bowen to lead BMG UK after global restructure.

Tim Bowen is taking the helm of BMG UK and Ireland, with Hasse Breitholtz returning to his native Sweden.

Bowen's succession as chairman and CEO was confirmed last Thursday in parallel with a restructuring of the major's global operations, which also sees Bowen taking responsibility for BMG's other ex-North American, English-speaking markets.

Breitholtz says he has been negotiating his release, to return to his native Stockholm, since last summer. He plans to announce his next plans in the coming weeks and is staying until the end of March to ensure a smooth hand-over.

Bowen, a former Columbia Records managing director and, most recently, COO of BMG Europe, says he is relishing the chance to get deeply involved in a record company again. "It is a very exciting opportunity," says Bowen. "The closer you are to the action, the more exciting it is, and I am really looking forward to that.

"The UK company is doing extremely well. It's a wonderful time to be taking over. The challenge will be to take it one, two or three steps forward. The business is about having the best artists and the best people. We want to break artists--that's the most important thing."

Among those reporting to Bowen will be music division president Ged Doherty and finance and operations vice president Dennis Kooker. In turn, reporting to Bowen in his international role will be the heads of BMG's South African, Australian and New Zealand operations.

BMG's global reorganisation consigns to history its existing structure, centred on regional groups overseeing ...