Kim Lim promoted to Managing Director of Universal Music Malaysia

Universal Music Malaysia (UMM) has promoted Kim Lim to the position of Managing Director, Universal Music Malaysia, effective immediately.

The company says that the appointment comes as part of a series of strategic hires to further expand and bolster the senior management team as part of UMM’s effort to “accelerate domestic artist development and label growth within the region”.

As a core member of UMG’s regional executive team, Lim will oversee Universal Music Group’s operations throughout Malaysia.

Based at UMM’s headquarters in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, she will report to Calvin Wong, Chief Executive Officer, Universal Music Southeast Asia & Senior Vice President, Asia.

Having joined UMM in 2014 from Malaysian advertising agency RedRedRed, Lim has held a variety of senior roles within the company, most recently serving as Senior Director of New Business and Artist Management & Head of Marketing and Sales for Malaysia.

In this role, Lim led UMM across partnerships, talent management, live events and other new business initiatives.

In 2019, Lim spearheaded the launch of Celebrity 360, a management company that works with talents from the worlds of music, film/TV, entertainment and lifestyle including: Avnis Nabilah, Alvin Chong, Fattah Amin, Fazura, Diana Danielle, Syazuwan and Jaja Iliyes amongst others.

Prior to joining UMG,  Lim previously held positions at Asia-Pacific Videolabs, Warner Music Malaysia and Golden Dynamics Enterprise Ltd.

In addition to Lim’s promotion, Universal Music Malaysia has announced a series of key leadership appointments, effective immediately.

These include the appointment of Hermond Cheng as Director of A&R and Marketing and Head of Def Jam Malaysia, Ivan Koh’s appointment as Director of commercial & digital strategy and Patrina Wong who has been appointed as Finance and Operations director.

Industry veteran Cheng has previously held senior positions at EMI, Warner Music and joins UMM from Sony Music where he held the position of GM, Sony Music Malaysia.

Koh joins UMM after 14 years at Warner Music Group where he was most recently Director, Digital Account & Business Development.

Wong started her career in auditing and gained significant experience in both regional and in-country business and finance before joining UMG.

“I am thrilled that Kim’s ability, business innovation and strategic leadership have enabled her to rise from within UMM to the top job in Malaysia.”

Calvin Wong

Calvin Wong, Chief Executive Officer, Universal Music Southeast Asia & Senior Vice President, Asia said: “I am thrilled that Kim’s ability, business innovation and strategic leadership have enabled her to rise from within UMM to the top job in Malaysia.

Added Wong: “Having been a passionate and successful marketing executive on the label side, she has achieved amazing results in transforming our non-recorded Income, whilst spearheading the innovative and successful launch of Celebrity 360 in Malaysia.

“I’m confident that with the team of Kim, Hermond, Ivan and Patrina in place, UMM will continue to expand the opportunities for Malaysian music talent around the world, whilst achieving new levels of success domestically.”

“We will continue to focus on domestic A&R, discovering and developing the best talent our country and region have to offer.”

Kim Lim

Kim Lim said: “I am excited to lead the amazing team here in Malaysia, joined by these outstanding new senior managers, Hermond, Ivan and Patrina, as we look at new ways to expand the horizons and think expansively about what is possible for a music company to achieve.

“We will continue to focus on domestic A&R, discovering and developing the best talent our country and region have to offer.

“Building upon the incredible success of Def Jam Malaysia, Celebrity 360 and our other commercial initiatives, we will innovate and carve new paths to ensure that Malaysia’s vibrant music culture is more accessible to partners, platforms and most importantly music fans throughout the region than ever before.”

In 2019, UMM launched Def Jam Malaysia, which has since signed hip-hop talent including multi-platinum awarded artist Yonnyboii, whose breakthrough track Salahku has already received more than 11 million views on YouTube, with his debut album scheduled for later in 2021.

In addition, UMM launched a new label RedRecords in partnership with AirAsia, dedicated to developing and introducing what it describes as “the best” in Asian-pop music to audiences around the world.

This year, Universal Music Malaysia will deepen its focus on local talent with the launch of several new labels and initiatives further establishing UMM as the leading label for breaking and developing Malaysian talent and music culture locally, across the Southeast Asia region and globally – both now and into the future.Music Business Worldwide