MUMBAI: Warner Music UK Classics gets a new head, after Warner Music Group (WMG) announced the appointment of Patrick Lemanski as Head of Classics. Prior to joining WMG, he served as Harmonia Mundi UK's managing director. Lemanski is taking over from John Kelleher who served WMG for 25 years and now is retiring.

In his new job, Lemanski will lead WMG's UK Classics operations, and manage its promotion, marketing and sales teams.

Talking about his new responsibility, Lemanski said, "I am profoundly honoured to join Warner Music, and very much look forward to working with its various teams. Having worked for many years in the classical music industry, I have always admired their prestigious catalogue. I am also very attracted by their resolute embrace of new ambitious projects. I look forward to contributing to the company's continued success and leadership."

Commenting on the new appointment, Warner Classics president Alain Lanceron said, "Patrick is an extremely talented music executive, and we greatly admire all he's accomplished with Harmonia Mundi."

He joined the France headquartered independent music record label Harmonia Mundi in 1995 as an international export manager. Later, he was elevated to the post of French sales director in 1997, then international director in 1999 and finally as managing director. Previously, he worked with Thomson-CSF (now Thales) as export sales manager and Renault as marketing manager.

Just last week, Warner Classics was named label of the year at Classica's Choc de l'Année Awards. The label has recent signed American tenor Bryan Hymel and the Aurora orchestra.