MUMBAI: Expanding its global digital team, Universal Music Group (UMG) has promoted Simon Watt to head of technology of Global Digital Group. Watt will report to global digital business president Rob Wells.
Simon Watt will be responsible for developing and supporting strategic technical engagements with partners, developing new technology solutions, integrating new business models into the company’s systems and implementing their rollout to international markets.
Related Post
Simon Watt said, “This is an exciting time for music and technology and I am truly grateful to Rob for the opportunity to play an even larger role in shaping our digital business. We have taken a more progressive approach to working with our technology partners, while at the same time, being very responsive to what our artists, consumers and retailers want. We are determined to help create, support and nurture the very best services in the world for fans and artists alike.”
Watt will continue to work closely with the major technology companies including Apple, Google, YouTube, Spotify and Microsoft.
Rob Wells stated “As the demand for digital music continues to grow, we are committed to working with those innovative companies in bringing new and dynamic services to fans everywhere. And having a results-driven executive of Simon’s caliber and experience lead our technology group demonstrates that we’ve got the best talent in place to maximize many of these opportunities in the current marketplace.”
Formerly, Watt was VP of Technology for Universal Music Group International. Prior to joining Universal Music, he has worked 11 years at electronics firm ARM, as Director of Research. Watt was also an inventor of proprietary computing and microchip architecture, and has 20 patents in his name, many of which are used in the ~5B ARM processors shipped annually.
