Sonny Takhar has been named chairman and chief executive of Warner Music UK & Ireland, one of the most senior roles in the British music industry.
The appointment was announced in late September, with Takhar taking up the position in January 2027. He will oversee creative direction, artist development and strategic operations across Warner Music Group’s recorded music footprint in the UK, the world’s third-largest music market, and in Ireland, along with the UK and Irish operations of ADA, the group’s independent distribution arm.
A track record of breaking stars
Takhar is one of the most recognisable executives in British music. As a founding partner of Syco Entertainment, he oversaw a roster that generated more than 400 million record sales, 244 number one albums and 169 number one singles worldwide.
During his tenure he played a central role in breaking artists including One Direction, Labrinth, Leona Lewis, Little Mix, James Arthur and Fifth Harmony, alongside leading the launch of the global television franchises The X Factor and Got Talent. He also guided the group Westlife to sell-out stadium tours worldwide and managed the songwriter and producer Steve Mac.
More recently, Takhar co-founded the Los Angeles-based company KYN Entertainment in a joint venture with Live Nation, built around an artist-partnership model spanning recorded music, publishing and management. Beyond the industry, he co-created UNICEF’s World Children’s Day and serves as a formal advisor to the organisation.
Reporting lines and remit
Takhar will report to Val Blavatnik, who was confirmed last week in the new position of managing director of Warner Music North America, UK & Corporate Development. He will work in close partnership with Elliot Grainge, chief executive and chairman of Atlantic Music Group, and Aaron Bay-Schuck, chairman and chief executive of Warner Records Group, to align creative and commercial strategy across the group’s flagship UK and US labels.
‘Sonny is one of the most visionary executives in music and his track record of discovering, nurturing and breaking global superstars speaks for itself’, Blavatnik said. ‘His instinct for talent, deep understanding of the wider music ecosystem and strategic global perspective make him the perfect leader to power Warner Music UK & Ireland forward.’
Takhar said he was delighted to lead the business into its next chapter. ‘Our mission is to build a forward-thinking and artist-centric organisation that empowers talent to forge long-term global careers’, he said.
The appointment comes nearly a year after the departure of Warner Music UK’s previous head, Tony Harlow, since when the group’s British label leaders have reported into global teams run by their American counterparts. Takhar’s arrival restores a dedicated chairman at the top of the UK and Irish business, with a remit to rebuild it as a destination for the country’s most promising artists.
His arrival completes a year of restructuring at the top of Warner’s British operation. With a new managing director for North America, the UK and corporate development above him, and close working partnerships established with the leaders of Atlantic Music Group and Warner Records Group, Takhar inherits a business whose structures have been rebuilt with global reach in mind. The task now is to give that structure something to sell: British and Irish artists with the potential to become global superstars, signed, developed and promoted from London.