Chief Operating Officer (COO), Central Europe

About the Role

Warner Music Group is seeking a Chief Operating Officer (COO) for Central Europe, based in Berlin with frequent travel to Amsterdam, Hamburg, Brussels/Antwerp, Vienna, and Zurich. This strategic leadership role reports to the President, Records & Publishing for Central Europe and operates within the Warner Music Central Europe Business Management department.

The position emerges from a recent structural reorganization uniting teams from Warner Music Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the Benelux region. This alignment aims to optimize market strategies, processes, and growth opportunities across these territories under unified leadership. The publishing business in Germany remains distinct under separate management, while Warner Chappell Music Benelux supports songwriter ambitions in the Netherlands and Belgium.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner with the President to develop and execute a comprehensive strategic plan targeting market share growth, new revenue channels, strong financial results, and an improved artist and employee experience.
• Lead commercial and supporting teams overseeing business and 360 operations including live events, merchandise, artist management, branding, synchronization, and media buying.
• Design and manage the execution roadmap for the Central Europe business plan, monitoring milestones, targets, and budget adherence while updating leadership regularly.
• Identify and facilitate growth opportunities through partnerships and mergers & acquisitions to strengthen market position aiming to become the #2 player regionally.
• Serve as a pivotal member of the Central European leadership team, driving business transformation and orchestrating governance via regular meetings.
• Represent Warner Music at trade boards such as IFPI, maintaining government and industry relations.
• Collaborate with other Warner Music affiliates to share best practices, foster partnerships, and leverage expertise.
• Guide the alignment of Central Europe objectives with broader EMEA and global goals, cascading and tracking key results and departmental priorities.
• Champion innovative approaches to grow the business, advocating change and fresh strategies.
• Build strong relationships with shareholders, colleagues, and external partners.
• Identify and develop emerging talent to ensure a resilient and future-ready workforce across Central Europe.
• Oversee operational compliance and controls throughout the region.
• Lead, coach, and mentor teams to provide outstanding services to artists, partners, and stakeholders.

Key Qualifications and Attributes

• Proven business leader with a proactive mindset and successful track record of increasing revenue or market share.
• Substantial experience in media, entertainment, or closely related sectors delivering commercial outcomes.
• Strong commercial acumen and deal-making capability, taking opportunities from inception to launch.
• Effective operational leader intent on achieving excellence and ambitious growth targets.
• Well-connected within the music industry or capable of rapidly building influential external networks.
• Extensive expertise across sales, new business development, relationship management, and M&A integrations.
• In-depth understanding of market trends, risks, and opportunities.
• Pragmatic problem solver with a solution-driven approach.
• Inspiring, inclusive leader skilled in motivating and growing diverse teams.
• Exceptional communication skills, authentic and polished in engagement.
• Strategic and hands-on thinker with project management and transformation leadership skills.
• Experienced collaborator working closely with senior leadership to realize bold business plans.
• Strong grasp of financial performance indicators and business analytics.
• Willingness to travel extensively within the region to strengthen partnerships.
• Fluent in German and English with proficiency in technology including Google Suite and AI tool adoption.

Additional Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of other relevant local languages such as French or Dutch.
• Background in music industry particularly with a focus on deal-making.

Cultural and Legal Notes

Warner Music values individuality and talent over personal attributes such as photo, age, marital status, or origin. Applications are evaluated based solely on abilities and personality. When applying, candidates consent to Warner Music’s privacy policy regarding personal data processing.