UK Music has appointed former Labour MP Michael Dugher as its new Chief Executive.
He takes over from Jo Dipple who announced her intention to step down in January after five years in the job.
Dugher has been a Labour MP for the seat of Barnsley East since 2010, and briefly served a four-month stint as Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport towards the end of 2015.
He will become the third Chief Executive since UK Music launched in 2008 and takes up the position in mid-May.
“Michael is a first class and dynamic choice with a proven track record as a powerful supporter of British Music – both the artists and the commercial organisations. He knows the business and politics inside out.”
andy heath, uk music
Andy Heath MBE, Chairman of UK Music, said: “Michael is a first class and dynamic choice with a proven track record as a powerful supporter of British Music – both the artists and the commercial organisations.
“He knows the business and politics inside out.
“Jo has been a tireless champion for the music sector and has built an organisation which is now a powerful unified voice for the industry.”
Dugher said: “I’m thrilled to have been appointed Chief Executive of UK Music.
“I have engaged with the organisation for several years and have seen it go from strength to strength thanks to its board, chairman Andy Heath and previous CEOs Feargal Sharkey and Jo Dipple.
“There is a great team at UK Music who do brilliant work and I’m really looking forward to working with them.
“British music is a world-beating industry which brings huge economic benefits for our country.
“I am determined to work with all the individual members of UK Music – on the business and creator side – to ensure our industry is protected during the Brexit process and that we continue to thrive.”
michael dugher
“I am determined to work with all the individual members of UK Music – on the business and creator side – to ensure our industry is protected during the Brexit process and that we continue to thrive.
”Safeguarding intellectual property, protecting venues, promoting new opportunities and broadening diversity in the sector are all central to our work at UK Music.
“Music has been a lifelong passion for me and I’m looking forward to helping make a real difference as UK Music’s new chief executive.”
Dugher has 20 years’ experience in leadership roles in government, Parliament and industry.
As MP for Barnsley East, he has spent most of that time holding senior positions in the Shadow Cabinet.
Before being elected to the House of Commons in 2010, Dugher spent eight years working in Whitehall in a variety of senior roles as a Special Advisor and was Chief Political Spokesman to the Prime Minister at Number 10.
Other previous positions include Director of UK Government Relations for global technology services company EDS (now Hewlett Packard) and Head of Policy for the AEEU (now Unite the Union).
He has worked on a cross-party basis with UK Music for many years, and served as a member of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Music.
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