James G. Fifield is an American businessman, who was President and CEO of EMI from 1988 to 1998.[1]

Background

Prior to joining EMI, Fifield became a vice president at General Mills in 1984.[2] In 1985, he became president and chief executive of CBS/Fox Video.[3]

EMI

During his tenure, EMI became the number one publishing company and the third largest music company in the world, with operations in over 70 countries and sales in excess of $4 billion. Operating profits grew from $5 million in 1988 to over $550 million in 1998, disposing of Thorn to Thorn EMI to redefine the company as a music business.

Accquisitions carried out under Fifield's tenure included Japan's Toshiba/EMI for over $400m, SBK Publishing for $337m (in 1989),[1] Chrysalis for £70m, and Virgin for $950m, amongst dozens of other lesser known labels.

During his tenure, the company expanded into Eastern Europe and Latin America. He also led the company through global consolidation during a time of transition, reconfiguring the business to reflect the emergence of the CD, closing vinyl businesses, and consolidating the cassette businesses.

Fifield was forced out of EMI in the spring of 1998, after an unsuccessful bid to become the chief executive of EMI Group.[1][4] He was bought out of his contract for 12 million pounds, reportedly the largest corporate buyout in UK history at the time.[5]

In 2007, he pursued a bid to purchase EMI with London-based financier Sam Glover, which was later withdrawn.[6][7][8][9]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Pareles, Jon (6 January 1989). "Thorn-EMI Gets SBK for $337 Million". The New York Times. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  2. ↑ "General Mills Inc. Elects James G. Fifield group executive vice-president. - PR Newswire | Encyclopedia.com". Archived from the original on 2010-03-16. Retrieved 2010-07-05.
  3. ↑ "New President At CBS/Fox". The New York Times. November 1985. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  4. ↑ "Leadership Plan Unravels at EMI". The New York Times. 23 February 1998. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  5. ↑ "Heads you win, tails you win". Independent.co.uk. 24 March 1998. Archived from the original on 2022-06-08. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  6. ↑
  7. ↑ "FE Investegate |Jim Fifield Announcements | Jim Fifield: Withdrawal of Interest". Archived from the original on 2018-07-21. Retrieved 2010-04-09.
  8. ↑ "Billboard biz". Investegate.co.uk. Archived from the original on 22 July 2012. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  9. ↑ "Billboard biz". Billboard.biz. Archived from the original on 7 October 2012. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
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