Adam Holt, Universal Music New Zealand Managing Director & Chairman, Announces Retirement

After 34 years with the company, Adam Holt has announced his retirement from Universal Music New Zealand.

Holt, the Managing Director and Chairman of Universal Music New Zealand, will retire effective Wednesday, 30 April. The decision comes after 24 years of leading the company and 34 years with Universal Music Group and a predecessor company, Polygram.

In addition to Holt’s retirement, Universal Music Australia & New Zealand President and CEO Sean Warner has announced that Myra Hemara and Matt Kidd have been promoted as co-Managing Directors. Leaving big shoes to fill, the pair will take on the position on Thursday, 1 May, directly reporting to Warner.

Since joining Universal Music New Zealand in 2006, Myra Hemara has helped establish the company’s digital department and strategy. Along with Matt Kidd, Hemara was appointed General Manager in 2017.

Kidd has been with the company for 12 years. After making his mark in promotions and public relations, Kidd stepped in to lead Universal Music New Zealand’s domestic repertoire and business development teams.

In a statement, Holt described his time with Universal Music New Zealand as the experience of his life.

He said: “Leading the New Zealand company for UMG has been the experience of my life. I am immensely proud of what we have achieved and the challenges we have successfully navigated over the years, but it’s time for me and the company to start the next chapter.

“A big thank you to Sir Lucian Grainge and Sean for trusting me with UMNZ for so long, and a huge thank you to the entire Universal Music team across New Zealand and Australia. You are an amazing group of people, and I will miss you immensely. Most importantly, thank you to all the artists I have had the honour to serve in my time at Universal. I remain in complete awe of you all.”

Warner praised Holt’s “exemplary” commitment to Universal, its artists, colleagues, and the wider New Zealand music industry.

“Adam’s commitment to our company, our artists, our people, and the greater New Zealand music industry has been nothing short of exemplary,” Warner said.

“Throughout his tenure, he consistently promoted a positive culture of both UMNZ and UMA, garnering him enormous respect from both employees and artists alike. Adam is a passionate music man, caring mentor and consummate professional, who led from the front and made lifelong friends across the UMG, the artist community, artists and with our partners around the world.”