Ethiopia Habtemariam

Formerly chairwoman and CEO of Motown from March to December 2021; departed from board of directors in November 2022. From Atlanta, Habtemariam started as an intern at Elektra and later, LaFace Records in the 1990s before she moved to Los Angeles in 2000, aged 21, to work in a publishing job for LaFace co-founder Kenneth Edmonds aka Babyface. Two years later, she moved to New York when Universal Music offered her a job in publishing. This role included A&R consultancy, which led her to sign Joe Budden, Ludacris, Polow Da Don, Keri Hilson and Ciara (2). Habtemariam was appointed president of Motown in 2014, where she established partnerships with labels such as Quality Control Music (2) and signed a deal with artist manager Corey Smyth to revive Blacksmith Music. When she became chairwoman and CEO, she reported directly to Lucian Grainge, head of Universal Music Group. She relinquished her position in late 2021, but didn't leave the label's board of directors until a year later, being replaced by Ruff Ryders co-founder Chivon Dean.