MUMBAI: EMI Music has named Shabs Jobanputra, one of the UK’s most successful A&R executives of the last 10 years and the co-founder of EMI’s joint venture label Relentless, has been promoted to the position of president of Virgin Records UK.

Jobanputra reports to EMI president of New Music for North America and the UK/Ireland Nick Gatfield.

Jobanputra co-founded Relentless in 1999 as an independent label, initially focusing on urban music. In its first few years Relentless had a string of UK number one singles from artists including Daniel Bedingfield and So Solid Crew.

Relentless became a joint venture with EMI in 2003 under Jobanputra’s continuing A&R leadership. It has since enjoyed commercial and creative successes with artists including Grammy and Brit Award-winning Joss Stone, Brit Award-winning KT Tunstall and Seth Lakeman and Cage The Elephant.

Joss Stone, KT Tunstall and Seth Lakeman have all been nominated for the prestigious Mercury Prize, a very impressive creative track record for a label that is barely 10 years old.

Gatfield said, "Shabs has got the drive and ambition to ensure Virgin becomes a leading home for UK talent. His ability to identify and develop artists across all genres makes him the ideal candidate for the role."

Jobanputra said, "It’s a great time to be coming on board as EMI seeks to become the number one music-based company that adds real value to artists and their work."