Chairman and CEO of Universal Music Group International (UMGI) Lucian Grainge has been promoted to CEO of Universal Music Group (UMG), succeeding Doug Morris. The position is effective Jan. 1, 2011. Grainge will report to Jean-Bernard Levy and become a member of the Vivendi Management Board.

Grainge will relocate from London to New York and serve as co-CEO of UMG with Morris for six months, beginning July 1. Morris, who has served as chairman and CEO of UMG since November 1995, will remain as chairman.

“The time has come for Lucian to step up to the CEO role,” Morris said in a statement. “I am very happy with the new organization as I have been grooming him to succeed me for quite a while now. I know he is ready, willing and able to attack the challenges of the new decade.”

Grainge has helmed UMGI since 2005. He started his career with CBS/April Music in 1979, advancing to positions in A&R and talent development, and rising to senior management positions at PolyGram UK and Universal Music internationally.

“I am delighted that Lucian Grainge has agreed to move to New York to take on the Chief Executive role. His track record speaks for itself, finding stars, growing revenues and building new business models,” Levy said. “He has the right combination of experience and innovation to take UMG forward as the migration into the digital era accelerates. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Doug Morris for the extraordinary results he has achieved over the years in a very tough environment.”

Via: