Universal Music UK‘s in-house creative agency Globe has promoted Jennifer Hills and Sarah Desmond, who both have been with Globe for over 10 years, as co-Managing Directors of the unit’s sync and brand partnership teams.
Desmond and Hills joined Globe in 2009 and 2012, respectively, as Senior Directors, and were promoted to Senior Vice Presidents in 2016. The pair have led campaigns with global brands for artists like Sam Fender, Florence + The Machine, Sam Smith, Paul McCartney, YUNGBLUD, Rihanna, Ellie Goulding, Mabel, Lewis Capaldi, Sigrid and The Chemical Brothers.
In 2019, Desmond and Hills led Globe’s brand partnership with The Chemical Brothers for Formula 1.
The partnership saw the electronic music duo create a three-second track called WGTT15000BPM F1 NEEEUM MIX, which was used as the sport’s “new global sonic identity”. Globe claimed at the time that the track was “the fastest remix of all time.”
Desmond and Hills’ promotion was announced on Thursday (February 9) by Marc Robinson, Globe president and co-president of Mercury Studios.
Prior to joining Universal Music, Hills held senior roles for brand partnerships at Carat Global Management, TwoFour, Endemol and Mediacom, while Desmond served at Hubbub, The Gaiety Theatre, Savoy Theatre and RTE, according to her LinkedIn page.
“Jennifer and Sarah have been pivotal to Globe’s extraordinary success creatively and commercially over the last decade.”
Marc Robinson, Universal Music UK’s Globe
“Jennifer and Sarah have been pivotal to Globe’s extraordinary success creatively and commercially over the last decade,” said Robinson. “Their ambitious approach has transformed our brands approach and will bring fresh thinking to our ever-evolving sync strategy.”
Globe also announced the return of Adam Soffe in March as VP/Head of Sync, Creative. Soffe will report to Hills and Desmond on the sync side. Soffe previously held senior positions at Ministry of Sound, Bucks Music Publishing, Good Soldier and NWS Music Group.
He helped sign artists, writers, and composers in the film, TV advertising, and gaming industries, and delivered sync campaigns for artists including London Grammar, Mura Masa and Freya Ridings.
Another key promotion for Globe’s sync team is Neil Mulford, who Globe describes as “one of the industry’s most respected sync executives.” Mulford worked on campaigns for Celeste, Dusty Springfield, Elbow, Elton John and Metallica. He will serve as VP/Head of Sync, Licensing.
“Globe’s success has always been built on team spirit and ingenuity, and we’re incredibly excited for this new chapter.”
Marc Robinson, Universal Music UK’s Globe
“We’re delighted to welcome back Adam, and together with the vast experience Neil and Lucie bring, the team will become even stronger. Globe’s success has always been built on team spirit and ingenuity, and we’re incredibly excited for this new chapter,” added Robinson.
Elsewhere at Universal Music UK, the company’s EMI Records appointed Lucy Dann as Managing Director, reporting to Co-Presidents Rebecca Allen and Jo Charrington, over a week ago. The news followed the launch of EMI North, also in January.
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