UMG’s Verve Label Group has promoted Jamie Krents to president of its Verve, Impulse! and Verve Forecast labels, while the company’s executive vp Dawn Olejar has added the role of general manager to her responsibilities.
The New York-based executives will both report to Dickon Stainer, president and CEO of Verve Label Group and Universal Classics and Jazz.
“These two exciting promotions mark a crucial moment in the evolution of Verve,” said Stainer in a statement. “Jamie Krents becoming President of Verve and Impulse! is a true testament to his unique and exceptional vision for artist development as these legendary labels enter a new era under his stewardship. Dawn Olejar is a role model for outstanding label management, and her new combined responsibilities as EVP and General Manager reflect the breadth of modern and innovative skills she brings to the operational management of Verve Label Group.”
Krents joined Verve in 1998 as a temp before climbing the ladder to become senior vp of international marketing and label development; he was named executive vp of the Verve, Impulse! and Forecast imprints in 2019. Among other achievements, he played a key role in locating and acquiring the tapes that became the rediscovered John Coltrane album Both Directions at Once, which hit the top 40 on the Billboard 200 when it was released in 2018. He has also been instrumental in expanding the Verve roster beyond its traditional jazz roots by helping sign artists like Jon Batiste – who took home five Grammys this year including Album of the Year – as well as Kurt Vile, Arooj Aftab, Shabaka Hutchings and Samara Joy.
“Having spent my entire career at this company, this is literally a dream for me, as I have a respect for the history of Verve, Impulse! and Verve Forecast that is equaled only by my belief in our artists, our team, and my excitement over how our labels are evolving,” said Krents.
Olejar, who has served as executive vp at Verve Label Group for the last five years, has led high-profile U.S. campaigns for Verve artists including Andrea Bocelli, Ludovico Einaudi, Diana Ross, Lang Lang and Chad Lawson, plus new signings Gabríel Ólafs and Plínio Fernandes. In 2018, Olejar was named one of six emerging women executives shaping music’s future by Billboard. Before joining Verve, she was general manager at RPM Music Productions.
“I couldn’t be more excited about this next chapter with Verve Label Group,” said Olejar. “The personal and professional relationships I’ve built over the last few years have been the most rewarding of my career and I can’t wait to see what’s next.”
Across its family of labels, which also includes Decca Records US, Decca Classics and Deutsche Grammophon, the Verve Label Group roster also includes Max Richter, Diana Krall, Ólafur Arnalds and Tank and the Bangas.