The Universal Music Group announced the formation of a new division, called the Global Impact Team, that will oversee the music conglomerate’s efforts to promote positive community engagement, environmental sustainability and other related efforts, the company announced today (June 3). The team will be led by Susan Mazo, formerly executive vp of social responsibility, events and special projects, who has been promoted to executive vp/chief impact officer.
Joining the new department will be former music journalist and GreenBiz Group executive Dylan Siegler, who has been named senior vp/head of sustainability at UMG; senior vp and executive director of UMG’s Task Force for Meaningful Change Dr. Menna Demessie, who will be part of the leadership group; Markie Ruzzo, who has been promoted to vp of global impact; and Sharlotte Ritchie, former senior director of communications and head of the U.K. chapter of the Task Force for Meaningful Change, who has been named senior director of global impact and communications. In addition, the social impact marketing agency Inside Projects, founded by Kristin Jones and Arielle Vavasseur which has worked with Netflix, Spotify and the Obamas’ Higher Ground Productions, has made UMG its exclusive partner for the music industry.
“The formation of the Global Impact Team reflects our commitment not only to accelerating our work in these critical areas but to do so in a way that leverages the experience and talent of these exceptional individuals to drive positive impact across our company, our industry and in the communities in which we serve,” UMG chairman/CEO Lucian Grainge said in a statement. “With this new structure we are ensuring that these functions are not siloed, but rather positioned to meaningfully influence all aspects of our global strategy.”
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Mazo has been at the forefront of UMG’s efforts in this area since joining the company a decade ago, having co-created the music group’s Amplify Award to honor artists working towards positive change and serving as the founding chair of UMG’s All Together Now Foundation, which works to bring about meaningful change across the globe. In a statement, she said she was honored to lead the new team on behalf of UMG.
“Through our work we’ve demonstrated that sustainability, community engagement and corporate social impact go hand-in-hand with delivering positive results for our employees, artists and shareholders,” Mazo said. “With this next evolution of our team and structure, and with Sir Lucian’s constant encouragement and focus, I’m excited to create and implement a new approach that unites all of the efforts in a way that will amplify UMG’s global impact and brand resonance given our unique position to enact positive change.”