Facebook Music Exec Jeremy Sirota Named Merlin CEO

Indie digital rights agency Merlin has appointed Jeremy Sirota as the organization’s new CEO.

Based in both New York and London, he succeeds Charles Caldas who served as CEO since Merlin’s founding in 2007.

Sirota joins Merlin from Facebook’s Music Team. While there, he led the company’s efforts to license and acquire recorded music rights from independent record labels with Facebook, Instagram, Oculus and Messenger.

Sirota previously held a number of senior positions at Warner Music Group, culminating in his appointment as SVP and Head of Business & Legal Affairs for both Warner-Elektra-Atlantic (WEA), Warner’s artist and label services division, and Alternative Distribution Alliance (ADA), Warner’s indie distribution arm.

Prior to his work at Facebook and Warner Music Group, Sirota was an Associate at Morrison & Forster, LLP, New York, in their Technology Transactions Group. He is currently a mentor to the TechStars Music Accelerator Program.

Merlin’s senior management team also includes completed by Charlie Lexton (CCO) and Helen Alexander (CFO), both based in the UK, and Jim Mahoney (VP Global Operations) in the US. In addition to Sirota’s appointment, Dave Hansen will move into a new role as Executive Chairperson.