All Articles Tagged "black executives"
Behind the Music: Top Black Women Music Industry Executives
Women have held their own the music charts since the charts were invented. But behind the scenes females in the music industry could boast of having little to know say. My, have things changed. Today’s black woman is not only filling the seats of the concert arenas, she’s taking her seat in the musical boardroom. From trailblazers like Sylvia Rhone, to innovators like Carmen Murray, women are calling the shots. Here’s our list of the top black woman music executives:
Sylvia Rhone is not done yet. The music world is eagerly anticipating the legendary executive to launch her own label through Epic Records. It will be the latest in a decades long list, of profound accomplishments. In 1994 she took the helm of chairman and CEO of Elektra Entertainment Group, making her the only African-American and the first woman in the history of the recording industry to earn that title. After her time in EEG’s C-suite, Rhone moved on to become president of Universal Motown Records. She departed in 2011. Her new label, which she is currently working on, will be overseen by Epic chief, L.A. Reid.
Former Black Vice President Steals Millions From Citigroup
By J. Smith
Gary Foster, a black man and former vice president at Citigroup, is being accused of embezzling $18.4 million from the Wall Street giant. It was a one man heist that involved a series of secret money transfers, that resulted in his surrender at John F. Kennedy International Airport on Sunday night, directly off of a flight from Bangkok.
“According to a criminal complaint, Foster’s department financed loans and processed wire transfers within Citigroup. From May 2009 through to the end of last year, Foster siphoned funds from various Citigroup accounts, placed them in the bank’s cash account and then wired the money into his private account at another bank in New York,” The Sydney Morning Herald reports.
After helping himself to the company cash, he quit as VP of the treasury finance department in January before making a run for it. He had been travelling in southeast Asia when he heard that he’d been caught. He was released Monday on a $700,000 bond after appearing in federal court. Foster is now facing bank fraud charges that carry a maximum penalty of 30 years, the Herald reports.
At least this guy had the decency to quit while he was ahead, instead of being hauled out of his office for an even bigger spectacle. Either way, he obviously didn’t steal enough money to make sure he wouldn’t get caught.
Gap's Top Designer Gets the Boot
(Wall Street Journal) — A year ago, top Gap designer Patrick Robinson stood alongside Oprah Winfrey and Vogue Editor Anna Wintour at the Metropolitan Museum of Art overseeing the New York fashion industry’s most prestigious gala. Thursday, he was out of a job. His departure after four years of lackluster results was yet another sign of Gap Inc.’s failure to breathe new life into its namesake brand, which peaked in the mid-1990s. It also underscores how difficult it can be for a retailer to set itself apart with jeans, T-shirts and other staples that can be found everywhere. Mr. Robinson’s appointment in spring 2007 received considerable fanfare. His resume boasted stints at Perry Ellis, Anne Klein and Giorgio Armani, as well as a degree from the Parsons School of Design. He was named one of Vogue Magazine’s 100 rising stars in 1996. Mr. Robinson notched some successes, including a revamped line of jeans that was critically and commercially well-received. But overall, improvement didn’t materialize. Same-store sales at Gap brand’s North American stores declined for 14 of the 16 quarters of his tenure.
Head of Universal Motown May Step Down
(The Wrap) — Pioneering music executive Sylvia Rhone is in talks with bosses at Universal Music Group to exit as president of Universal Motown, a major label arm of the world’s largest music company. Under one scenario, according to two persons familiar with the situation, Rhone — perhaps the industry highest-ranking female and African-American executive — would be head a new production entity fully or partly financed by Universal. ”It’s just too early” to know the outcome of the talks, a confidante of Rhone told The Wrap. Rhone — whose list of new and hit artists ranges from hip hop’s Busta Rhyme to Motown legend Stevie Wonder to R&B star Brandy and Erykah Badu — wasn’t immediately available for comment. Nor could a spokesman for Universal Music be reached.
10 Powerful Mothers In Business
by Kweli Wright
African American working mothers are making their mark on this generation, especially in the high-powered, demanding business field. Meet some of the best and brightest. Each of these moms has at least one child–some are young children and others are young adults. But what all have in common is that they all have powerful moms who bring home the bacon, fry it up in a pan…and help make the world a better place.
Black Women Try to Move Up with Glass Ceiling
We all knew a little bit too well, the plight of Kenya McQueen in "Something New".
She works hard for the money. So hard honey, honey. So why hasn’t she reached the top yet?
