Angela Watts, one of the highest-ranking Spotify executives worldwide, is leaving the streaming company after eight years, MBW can reveal.
The respected UK-based marketing and comms specialist was hired by Daniel Ek in January 2010.
She is regarded as one of the key architects in building Spotify’s brand from a Swedish startup only available in a handful of markets to the global market leader in music streaming.
Daniel Ek told PRWeek in 2014: “”Angela, in short, is a machine. She is always juggling at least 15 projects at any given moment. The fact that she is not only calm under pressure, but always finds a way to smile, makes her an amazing friend and asset to Spotify.”
Watts joined Spotify when the firm had less than a million subscribers and had just launched its first mobile app.
Today, Spotify has 71m subscribers worldwide and expects to to have attracted close to 100m by the end of 2018.
Watts was hired as VP Marketing and Communications, reporting to Ek, before going on to build a global team from scratch.
She was named a director of Spotify’s UK company, Spotify Ltd, in summer 2013.
Watts played a central role in the long-awaited launch of Spotify in the US in July 2011, and was also a key figure in the path to Spotify’s flotation on the New York Stock Exchange, which it executed on April 3.
It is currently unknown where Watts may be off to. Her departure follows that of Spotify’s Global Head of Artist & Label Marketing, Dave Rocco, who recently joined UMG as EVP, Creative.
Watts is a trustee of the BRIT Trust and long-standing supporter of the UK’s annual Music Industry Trusts Award, which raises money for Nordoff Robbins and the BRIT School.
Spotify is currently valued at more than $28bn, with a closing share price on the NYSE of $165.60 today (May 1).Music Business Worldwide