Rob Stevenson

Rob Stevenson is president of EMI's Virgin US record label, a role he will assume on August 15, 2008. Formerly, he was Executive VP of A&R for Island Def Jam Music Group and president of Stolen Transmission Records, his joint venture label imprint with IDJMG and Sarah Lewitinn. As well, Stevenson was partners with Lewitinn and Joanna Noyes in For The Win! (FTW!), a marketing firm.

When he was at Island Def Jam, Stevenson was based in New York and reported to Antonio "L.A." Reid, chairman of IDJMG, on all creative matters, and reports directly to Steve Bartels, president of Island Records, on all operational matters.

Stevenson signed The Killers, Fall Out Boy, Thrice, Damone, Sum 41, Lady Sovereign, Ashes Divide, Playradioplay!, The 88,and The Bravery among others to Island Def Jam. Artists Stevenson signed at IDJMG sold a total of at least 26 million records worldwide.

Stevenson served as VP of A&R for Island Records from 2002 to 2006, following two years as director in the department. He first joined Island Def Jam in 1998 as manager of A&R for Mercury Records, a position he retained when Mercury was folded into the Island Def Jam Music Group the next year. Stevenson began his career in 1993, as an assistant account executive at Ogilvy and Mather.

Rob exited his post with Island Def Jam in December of 2007. Restructuring due to industry conditions was listed as the cause. Several music publications, including Rolling Stone, noted that this was the first round of layoffs that cut directly into the bone of the business and that cuts were now effecting the industry's ability to generate income in the future.