The Association of Independent Music has announced the departure of chief executive Silvia Montello, citing personal reasons. Montello began leading the London-based indie sector trade body in early 2023 following the exit of Paul Pacifico, who left for the Saudi Music Commission. Taking over on an interim basis is Gee Davy, who now occupies three C-suite spots as AIM’s chief executive, operating and policy officer.
Davy, who joined AIM in 2017, previously handled day-to-day leadership of AIM in between Pacifico’s departure and Montello’s arrival. “With the trust of the inspirational team and board, and our excellent senior management at my side, I am looking forward to delivering on AIM’s commitment to support the UK’s innovative independent music community and level the music playing field,” Davy said.
Montello joined AIM less than a year after becoming the first-ever female CEO of the Association for Electronic Music (AFEM), the global non-profit representing electronic music companies. Prior to AFEM, she held senior roles at the U.K. arm of Universal Music, where she worked as director of catalog marketing between 2006 and 2010, and BMG, where she served as group senior vp of recordings operations and integrations from 2014 to 2016. She was subsequently appointed senior vp of operations at the then-Kobalt-owned artist services company AWAL, a post she held from 2017 to 2020.
“It’s unfortunate that we are losing Silvia so soon into her tenure, but on behalf of the board I wish her well in her next endeavours,” said AIM chair Ruth Barlow. “The board and I are working closely with Gee and the AIM team as we continue to support and promote the independent music sector, delivering and creating value for our community via our membership events and activities schedule, industry affairs work and beyond.”
AIM represents more than 1,000 U.K. indie labels, artists and music companies, including Beggars Group, Domino, Warp and Ninja Tune. The U.K. is the world’s third biggest recorded music market behind the U.S. and Japan with sales of just under $1.7 billion in trade value, according to IFPI’s 2023 Global Music Report.
