MUMBAI: American label Warner Bros. Records (WBR) has announced Emio Zizza as head of business and legal affairs, while retaining the position as SVP.  The new role will require him to report directly to WBR chairman and CEO Cameron Strang.

He will relocate from New York to the label's headquarters in California.

Zizza said, "I am thrilled to be taking on this new role during a time of rapid change in our industry. Under Cameron's leadership, WBR is in the midst of a creative resurgence, and I am looking forward to working closely with our fantastic executive team and brilliant roster of artistes to help chart our future."

Strang said, "Emio brings outstanding business savvy and a true artiste-oriented sensibility to his new position on our senior management team. It is the perfect combination for the WBR culture, so it gives me great pleasure to announce this richly deserved promotion and welcome him to our top legal post."

In 1996, he started his career in the music industry with Arista Records where he worked under the label founder Clive Davis. Later, he joined J Records as VP of business and legal affairs. He continued his role even when J and RCA Records came together, under the RCA Music Group umbrella in 2002. Then, he  went to join WBR in 2007.

He is also a faculty member at Rutgers University School of Law, where he teaches courses in contract drafting and negotiation, entertainment law, and law of the music industry.