Val Blavatnik

The board of Warner Music Group (WMG) announced Thursday (April 27) that it’s elected Val Blavatnik, son of WMG’s controlling shareholder Len Blavatnik, to a seat on the board of directors as well as the company’s executive committee.

Val Blavatnik replaces Len’s brother Alex Blavatnik, who’s served as a director on the WMG board since Access Industries acquired WMG in July 2011. Len Blavatnick currently serves as a director and vice chairman of WMG’s board.

Val Blavatnik has worked on the investment team at LionTree, covering the media and tech industries, since 2021. He has also been a production executive at the New York-based film and TV production company Eden Productions. He serves on the executive committee of Access Industries and previously worked in the music industry, primarily as an artist manager, according to a press release.

“We’re pleased to welcome Val to the WMG Board,” Michael Lynton, WMG’s board chairman, said in a statement. “His experience working with a variety of companies as well as directly with artists makes him well suited to his new post. He’ll also bring a fresh perspective as we chart the future of WMG. We’re incredibly grateful to Alex for his wisdom, guidance, and enthusiasm over the past 12 years, as the company has grown and thrived in the streaming era.”

“I’m excited to be joining the Board during this dynamic, transformational time at WMG, with so many innovative opportunities ahead for artists and songwriters,” Blavatnik said. “I’ve previously worked on artist projects with the senior team, and I’m looking forward to collaborating with the impressive group of leaders on the Board.”