Annette Donelly to head Sony/BMG Ireland [updated]

Rumours concerning the appointment had been rife within the industry over the past three months, as the momentum towards putting the practicalities of the merger in place gathered pace.

Industry insiders had tipped Donnelly, who has performed exceptionally well since taking up the appointment as Sony MD following the retirement of John Sheehan in the early part of 2003.

However, the news will still come as a major disappointment to Freddie Middleton, an industry veteran of 30 years, who – as the boss of BMG here – had also presented a case for taking over the top position in the new operation.

It is not yet clear how the decision will affect the staff at the Dublin offices of the respective companies. However, Hot Press has learned that an organisational structure has been put in place in the UK, which will ensure that everyone currently in both Sony and BMG will be given a chance to apply for positions in the new entity – and the same process will now go into effect in Ireland.

"These things are tough for everyone involved," an industry source told Hot Press, "but what has been put in place is an equal and fair process, with a view to ensuring that the company is in a really good condition to go forward strongly and to develop into an even more effective operation.