Interscope Geffen A&M (IGA) has announced several promotions amid the company’s ongoing restructuring.
Michelle An has been upped to president and chief creative officer of IGA, reporting to Interscope Capitol chairman and CEO John Janick. An will continue leading IGA pop/rock while expanding her role at the company — from helping artists with visual identity and storytelling to branding and long-term career strategy.
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Elsewhere, Laura Carter and Ramon Alvarez-Smikle have been promoted to co-presidents of urban at IGA, also reporting to Janick and working closely with An. “Together, they will bring A&R, marketing innovation, digital strategy and audience development closer together for IGA Urban’s artists,” according to a press release. Alvarez-Smikle’s role will also entail developing and scaling digital systems and infrastructure that drive success for the IGA roster, including in urban and pop/rock.
“IGA has always been defined by original voices and by the teams who back those voices with taste, conviction and care,” said Janick in a statement. “Michelle has one of the clearest creative instincts in the business. She helps artists make the world around their music feel bold, fully realized and unmistakably their own.”
Janick added, “Laura and Ramon bring complementary strengths to IGA Urban. Laura has earned deep trust through her artist relationships, creative judgment and commitment to developing talent. Ramon brings cultural instinct, deep digital expertise and a sharp understanding of how artists build audiences and communities. Together, they will connect A&R, marketing and digital strategy around each artist’s vision, helping IGA Urban artists move with more clarity, momentum, and impact.”
Billboard previously reported that An, Carter and Alvarez-Smikle would be taking on expanded roles at IGA, though the specifics of those roles weren’t revealed until Tuesday (Oct. 20). The promotions come amidst the third and final phase of a restructuring and cost-cutting plan that IGA’s parent company Universal Music Group (UMG) first announced in 2024. Last week, a slew of top executives at UMG labels exited the company, including Polydor Records president Ben Mortimer, Def Jam Recordings chairman/CEO Tunji Balogun, IGA president & head of urban A&R Nicole Wyskoarko and IGA co-president and head of pop/rock A&R Sam Riback.
Concurrently, some UMG execs took on new or expanded roles, also including Mercury Records chairman/CEO Tyler Arnold and Republic Collective president/CEO Jeffrey Remedios, both of whom took on new leadership positions at Republic Records; and Island Records co-CEOs Imran Majid and Justin Eshak, who expanded their roles within UMG’s East Coast labels.
