Chinedu Okeke named Managing Director, Universal Music Nigeria

Chinedu Okeke has been named Managing Director, Universal Music Nigeria. He will lead the development and expansion of Universal Music Group‘s existing operations within Nigeria, and further English-speaking markets in West Africa.

This is part of the strategic appointments recently made by the entertainment company to support and grow Africa’s domestic music ecosystems, while also creating new opportunities for African talent to reach new audiences globally.

Chinedu Okeke joins UMG having established himself over the last decade, as a successful business and live-music entrepreneur. He is the founder of Eclipse Live – A Live entertainment company focused on bringing live affordable entertainment to the youth of Africa and Eclipse Brand Agency, working with major clients, artists and commercial partners.

He is also the founder and Executive Producer of Nigeria’s legendary Gidi Culture Festival, and a founding Trustee of Echo Music & Arts Foundation, and previously held positions at The Wicklow Group, Canvest Group & AP Moeller Maersk.

Other appointments made include Sipho Dlamini who has also been promoted to CEO, Universal Music South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa, and Elouise Kelly, who has been appointed Chief Operating Officer, Universal Music South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa. These appointments are effective immediately.

UMG has been doing quite a lot recently in the African space. It signed a talent and publishing deal with Nigeria’s Aristokrat Group in July 2020 and launched a new music label, Def Jam Africa, dedicated to representing the best hip-hop, Afrobeats and trap talent in Africa.

Universal Music Group is the world leader in music-based entertainment, with a broad array of businesses engaged in recorded music, music publishing, merchandising and audiovisual content in more than 60 countries. Featuring the most comprehensive catalog of recordings and songs across every musical genre, UMG identifies and develops artists and produces and distributes the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful music in the world.