MUMBAI: Music company EMI Music has promoted Jean-Philippe Rolland, currently production and recording director, Virgin Classics International to the expanded role of international director A&R EMI Classics.

Rolland will share his time between the Virgin A&R role (based in Paris and reporting to Alain Lanceron, President Virgin Classics) and the international A&R role reporting directly to EMI Classics Global president Eric Dingman.

In his expanded role, Rolland will help strengthen EMI Classics/Virgin Classics relationships with orchestras, opera houses, and concert venues as well as private presenters and concert promoters and cement the presence of the labels’ artists with emphasis on the very important North American region. This will include scouting new talent and strategic projects for international and local markets, and for developing and facilitating specific artist projects.

Rolland will work closely together with Virgin Classics president Alain Lanceron and EMI Classics VP A&R Stephen Johns.

Dingman said, "Jean-Philippe is a mainstay of our Classics division and he will be spending a significant proportion of his time in the critically important North American market, where he will be an asset in initiating comprehensive activity around projects that help to drive our artists’ profiles as well as their sales."

Rolland said, "This is an exciting new challenge and an important step in building momentum for EMI and Virgin Classics and our artists for the future. I look forward to working in close collaboration with our event partners, both old and new, moving forward."