Kobalt Global Head of Creative Alison Donald to Exit Company

Alison Donald, Kobalt’s global head of creative, will depart the company at the end of July to pursue other opportunities, it was announced Monday (July 29).

Donald joined Kobalt in 2017 to oversee the company’s A&R and creative in the U.K. and Europe for Kobalt Music Publishing and AWAL’s U.K. and Europe creative teams. She was promoted to head of global creative publishing in March 2023. Over her seven years at the company, she signed talent including Sam Fender, Cigarettes After Sex, Koffee, Gabriels, Jungle, Khruangbin, Rage Against the Machine, The Last Dinner Party and Tom Odell.

“Alison’s fervor for creativity and music have always been felt throughout the entire organization, inspiring our teams every day,” said Kobalt president Jeannette Perez in a statement. “Her palpable energy and enthusiasm will be missed by everyone at Kobalt. We wish her all of the best as she embarks on her next journey.”

Prior to Kobalt, Donald served as co-president at Columbia Records UK, where she signed and worked closely with George Ezra, Tom Odell, Rag’N’Bone Man, Declan Mckenna and The Civil Wars. Before that, she was MD at Chrysalis Music Publishing for a decade; served as head of A&R at Warner/Chappell Music for four years; and worked at Capitol/EMI Records for seven years. She began her career at Arista Records.

“Working with the team at Kobalt and all of the incredible artists and writers on the roster has been very rewarding, I am extremely proud of what we’ve all achieved,” added Donald. “I’m sad to be leaving both my friends at Kobalt and our wonderful roster but I am looking forward to the next chapter.”

Donald was named to Billboard‘s 2024 Women in Music list and recognized on Billboard‘s International Power Players list in 2023.