This has been a year of monumental change at the US division of Japanese entertainment giant Avex Inc.
Following its acquisition of S10 Publishing, the appointment of Brandon Silverstein as its new CEO, and its evolution from Avex USA to Avex Music Group earlier this year, the company has now announced what it calls a ‘sweeping expansion’ of its leadership team. (AMG, a global partnership between Brandon/S10 and Avex Inc. oversees the US and other territories).
Avex said on Thursday (October 16) that Zeke Silvera has been named SVP, Head of East Coast Operations and Head of A&R. Silvera will focus on artist development, studio and marketing strategy while leading S10’s producer and writer management functions from Avex Music Group’s New York base.
Spencer LeBoff has been named SVP, Head of West Coast Operations and Publishing & Acquisitions. LeBoff will oversee West Coast operations from the company’s new headquarters in West Hollywood.
Megan Timko has been appointed Head of Operations for Avex Music Group and S10, a position in which she will ensure “excellence in day-to-day execution and infrastructure as the company scales internationally,” the company said.
Jessica Roxana and Claudia Schumann have been tasked with overseeing Marketing for Avex and S10, while Tay James (a longtime A&R for Justin Bieber) and Miles Beard (former head of A&R at Republic Records) are joining Avex’s publishing division as Senior A&R Consultants. Finally, Rory Server has been promoted to Chief of Staff.
These executives join the current leaders at the Avex team including, Justin Hunter (Vice President, Corporate), Nevin Sanitsky (Director, A&R, Publishing Division), Ryan Kamada (Chief Financial Officer, Corporate), Brennen Bryant (Senior Director, A&R, Publishing Division), and Hajime Hirada (Senior Manager, A&R International, Publishing Division).
“As we continue to expand our operations in the US and globally, this team will be instrumental in advancing our mission to sign and develop the world’s most successful songwriters, producers, and artists, while growing Avex and S10’s influence on a truly global scale,” Silverstein said in a statement.
“While we’re leading from the US, our focus is international – building a world-class roster, expanding into key markets around the world, and pursuing strategic partnerships and acquisitions that will further strengthen our creative ecosystem.”
Avex USA launched in 2022 as a US label owned by Tokyo-headquartered entertainment giant Avex Inc. Earlier this year, the company acquired 100% of S10 Publishing’s catalog and took an additional stake in S10 Management.
“Our focus is international – building a world-class roster, expanding into key markets around the world, and pursuing strategic partnerships and acquisitions that will further strengthen our creative ecosystem.”
Brandon Silverstein, Avex Music Group/S10
As part of those changes, S10 founder Brandon Silverstein took over as CEO of the renamed Avex Music Group, succeeding Naoki Osada, who led Avex USA since its launch and is now launching Nebula17, a music company with label, publishing, management, international strategy and venture capital arms.
Avex says it has “entered an especially successful period” since Silverstein took the helm.
“Already in 2025, we’ve celebrated multiple No. 1 records and major success with talent like Grant Boutin (Tate McRae), Elkan (Drake, Rihanna), Elyas (Drake), Harv (Justin Bieber), Kamal Wilson (Kehlani), Shenseea, and many others. We’re just getting started,” Silverstein said.
Songwriter/producer Grant Boutin’s work on Tate McRae’s latest album So Close To What has already resulted in a No. 1 Mediabase Top 40 hit with Sports Car, a Billboard dance/pop No. 1 hit with Revolving Door, and the current hit TIT FOR TAT, which entered the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 3 last week, Avex said.
Recent signings Elkan and Elyas are seeing success with Drake’s Nokia and What Did I Miss?, on top of Elkan’s contribution to Travis Scott’s JACKBOYS 2 and Rihanna’s new single from the Smurfs movie.
Meanwhile, Shenseea’s Shake It To The Max went to No. 1 on the urban radio chart, while Harv produced and co-wrote Justin Bieber’s SWAG. Harv is a member of We The Band, Bieber’s touring band, which has officially joined Avex.
Most recently, Avex signed songwriter and producer Kamal Wilson, who co-wrote Kehlani’s No. 1 single Folded.
Avex, which started its operations in the US from a West Hollywood house and studio, now also rents office space in LA and New York.Music Business Worldwide
