MUMBAI: Universal Music Iberian Peninsula has appointed Simone Bosé as the President. He will oversee all of the company’s operations in Spain and Portugal. The appointment is effective immediately. He will be based in Madrid and will report to Jesús Lopez, Chairman and CEO of Universal Music Latin America and Iberian Peninsula.

Bosé succeeds Fabrice Benoit who recently left the company. Simone Bosé said, "I’m very excited to be returning to Universal Music to work with all the amazing artists and the great team here to grow our business in Spain and Portugal."

Jesús Lopez said, "Simone represents the very best in creative leadership and business management. I’m confident he will play a key role in helping us achieve our goals in the Iberian Peninsula and reinforce the strong leadership Universal Music has in the Spanish speaking markets.

Prior to this, he has worked with EMI. In 2004 he joined EMI as general manager of EMI Music Spain and in 2009 was promoted to chairman of EMI Music Spain and Portugal. He has also worked with Universal owned company Mercury label in Spain from 1992 to 1999 including as director of A&R and marketing, director of international exploitation and managing director. Bosé was one of the founding partners of independent music company BajaMusic.

He has worked with Bebe, Amaral, Bunbury, Macaco, Luz Casal, Estrella Morente, Mariza, Carminho y Camane and Pablo Alborán, the best-selling new act in 2011 and 2012 in Spain and Portugal.