Key Hirings Made in Music Industry

PolyGram installed former EMI Records executive Davitt Sigerson on Thursday as chairman and Johnny Barbis, a PolyGram executive, as president of its Island Records USA division. The moves follow the departure last year of Island founder Chris Blackwell, who was ousted after publicly criticizing PolyGram Chairman Alain Levy.

Music industry veteran Richard Griffiths has been named chairman of Bertelsmann Music Group’s newly restructured European sector. Griffiths, a respected British record executive who helped develop the careers of such top rock artists as Pearl Jam and Oasis during his tenure as president of New York-based Epic Records, will be based in London and oversee two of BMG’s European divisions.

Danny Yarbrough has been hired to take charge as chairman of Sony Music’s distribution sector. Yarbrough, a 30-year industry veteran, will replace former distribution chief Paul Smith, who retired earlier this month.