7Digital Names New CEO As Simon Cole Exits
7digital has announced that Simon Cole will step down as Director and CEO next month and named John Aalbers to replace him. Simon has led the B2B digital music company since its creation from the reverse merger with UBC Media in 2014.
His departure has been planned since last year.
New CEO John Aalbers was CEO of Arts Alliance Media, providing operational support software for the cinema industry. Prior to that, he was in the telecommunications sector where he held roles including CEO of Volubill and senior positions with CGI and Intec Telecom Systems .
Aalbers begins his new job on April 1st and will also join the 7digital Board.
Don Cruickshank, Chair of 7digital, commented:
“The Board wishes to give profound thanks to Simon for his insights and vision in seeing that many companies and brands would wish to support and nurture their business models with music delivered by streaming technologies, and that they would need access to a neutral, efficient and cost-effective platform. That is what 7digital now provides and, after some turbulent years, it is very well positioned to thrive in the streaming-based music market of the future. We wish him well in his future endeavours.
“We now welcome John Aalbers to the role of CEO. His career is distinguished with success in a number of not-dissimilar challenges to those facing 7digital, all based on sector focussed software and platform services. The Board looks forward to working with John to build the Company both in scale and scope of business.”
Simon Cole commented:
“This transition was planned last year when we felt that 2018 would mark the successful growth into profitability after four years. In the end, the events surrounding MediaMarktSaturn’s sudden strategic changes in December had a profound effect on the Company and I felt I could not leave until that position was resolved and satisfactory settlement had been achieved. Now that has been done, I leave 7digital in good shape and in good hands. I have enjoyed this adventure and, in particular, leading an extraordinarily talented and dedicated group of people.”
