Universal Music Publishing President, North America
Evan started his music publishing career working at Berry Gordy’s Jobete Music (the publishing wing of Motown Records), in 1988, as Creative Manager after graduating from New York University.
He went to work for MCA Music Publishing in 1990 as Director of Creative Services. During his time there, he was responsible for working with the entire MCA songwriter roster as well as signing the successful songwriting- production team of Cory Rooney and Mark Morales who went on to be the force behind Mary J. Blige’s breakthrough hit “Real Love.”
In 1991, Evan joined EMI Music Publishing as Creative Director under the mentorship of then Chairman Martin Bandier. He became Sr. Vice President, Creative, in 1995, overseeing activity for the East Coast. In 1998, his role expanded to Executive Vice President Creative, North America continuing his endeavors and taking on additional corporate responsibilities. In 2007, Evan was named Sr. Creative A&R and Music Innovations, North America taking on the task of helping to build EMI Music Publishing’s Music Innovations Division and dealing in creative and business relationships with such powerhouse corporate entities as Microsoft, Pepsi and ESPN.
At EMI, Evan signed or worked with such artists and songwriters as Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty, Bad Boy CEO Sean “Diddy” Combs, Pink, Pharrell Williams, Hootie and The Blowfish, Idina Menzel, Paula Abdul, Jewel, LL Cool J and Regina Spektor. His work with EMI songwriters has led to their songs being recorded by artists such as Celine Dion, Carlos Santana, Barbra Streisand, Cher, and Rod Stewart.
In 2008, after seventeen years at EMI Music Publishing, Evan joined Gibson Guitar Corp. as Executive VP Operations / Global Entertainment Relations overseeing worldwide marketing, branding and talent relations spanning 13 countries with over 100 marketing executives and consultants.
2009 saw Evan transitioning back to his love of music publishing as Executive VP Creative, East Coast for Universal Music Publishing. He was promoted to President of Universal Music Publishing, North America in 2011 relocating to its world headquarters in Santa Monica, California.
During his time at Universal, Evan has signed or worked with such artist- songwriters as Justin Bieber, Mariah Carey, Imagine Dragons, Miley Cyrus, Prince, Gloria & Emilio Estefan, Josh Groban, Carly Rae Jepsen, Billy Joel, Jon Bon Jovi, Avril Lavigne, Benny Blanco, Craig David, Neil Diamond, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Bryan Adams, Heart and Randy Newman.
His Board positions include sitting on the Board of Directors of the Songwriters Hall of Fame; Carnegie Hall Board of Trustees; ASCAP Board of Directors; LOVELOUD (LGBTQ advocacy) Foundation Board (working closely with founder and Imagine Dragons frontman Dan Reynolds); Pepperdine University Institute of Entertainment, Media, Sports & Culture Board; and The Leonard Bernstein Music Publishing Company Board. His involvement in charitable and social justice organizations includes being President of The Board for the City of Hope’s Music, Film & Entertainment Industries Group; Muscular Dystrophy Association (where he is a National Vice President); Augie’s Quest to Cure ALS Advisory Leadership Council (where he was honored with the Champion of ALS Award in October 2018) and Universal Music Group’s Task Force For Meaningful Change (sparked by the Black Lives Matter movement). He was awarded the 2016 President’s Volunteer Service Lifetime Achievement Award, signed by Barack Obama, for his decades of community service.
Evan holds a dual MBA from Ivy League Cornell University’s Johnson Graduate School of Management and one from the Queen’s School of Business in Canada. He also holds a Masters of Science in Major Program Management from Oxford University’s Saïd Business School as well as a Bachelors of Music from New York University.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., Evan currently resides in Los Angeles, California with his wife, Lisa, and their daughter Lola.