Universal Music Australia top record executive George Ash announces his retirement

Leading Universal Music Australia executive George Ash announced his retirement on Monday.

Ash worked in the role for almost a decade and it saw him head the global record label’s operations across the Asia Pacific region.

‘I feel confident with the brilliant leadership group we have now, the organisation will continue to grow and thrive,’ he said in a statement.

Leading Universal Music Australia executive George Ash (pictured) announced his retirement on Monday

He added he believed it was time for him to step down from the position.

‘I’m excited by the changes we have made in the region in the past couple of years and look forward to seeing the team and incredible rosters of artists flourish.’

It comes after Ash announced an investigation into the company culture following several allegations directed at staff.

The label has represented many world-famous Australian artists including John Farnham (pictured)

Following a complaint, Ash publicly apologised for an ‘insensitive’ joke he made during a Zoom meeting and promised to do better.

‘It was insensitive, and that went through the appropriate processes and I apologised to everyone in the company who was impacted by it,’ he said. 

Universal Music Australia is the Australasian division of the world’s biggest record label.

Universal Music Australia also represents iconic Australian band Crowded House (picture)

It has represented many world-famous Australian artists including Crowded House, John Farnham and Slim Dusty.

In 2019 the label helped bring a documentary about the late INXS frontman Michael Hutchence called Mystify to the big screen.

The label also released a never-before-heard Hutchence album of the same name which reach the top 50 albums chart in Australia. 

In 2019 the label helped bring a documentary about the late INXS frontman Michael Hutchence (pictured) called Mystify to the big screen