Author: JD

October 03, 2012   |    By Jem Aswad, New York It’s official: As projected by Billboard.biz in June, John Janick has been named president and chief operating officer of Interscope Geffen A&M, the label announced today. Janick joins the company after 16 years at the helm of the indie Fueled By Ramen (fun., Fall Out Boy, Paramore, Panic! at the Disco) and three as co-president of Elektra Records, where he saw success with Bruno Mars, Cee Lo Green and others. IGA chairman/CEO Jimmy Iovine said in a statement: “I’m really excited to have John come on board as President and COO; he’s exactly what we needed at this time.  Everything he accomplished at Fueled By Ramen reminded me of the early days of Interscope. Combine that with John’s experience running a bigger company at Elektra, and it makes him the perfect fit for us.” “I’m looking forward to what lies ahead for Interscope Geffen A&M, and I’m thrilled to be working with Jimmy Iovine.” said Janick, who will report directly to Iovine.  “Because he is here, I would not have gone anywhere else. I’ve been entrusted to help build this company for the future. Interscope Geffen A&M has great artists and great employees. It’s fantastic to be joining a company that has been built on such exciting artists and music; that’s something I intend on continuing.” Janick has been touted as Iovine’s heir apparent in the weeks since news of his joining Interscope first broke, which raises questions about Iovine’s future role at the company; his success with Beats Electronics and as a judge on “American Idol”  have inevitably taken away from his day-to-day work at the label. Also unclear is the leadership of Fueled by Ramen going forward. Janick co-founded Fueled by Ramen in 1996 from his University of Florida dorm room in 1996; he was an 18-year-old freshman at the time. The label grew over the following years as Janick earned a B.A. in Finance and Business Management and then an M.B.A. at the University of South Florida. FBR saw early success with Jimmy Eat World, Fall Out Boy and Less Than Jake, and in the mid-2000s with Panic! at the Disco and Paramore. He was brought in with Mike Caren — who was recently named president of worldwide A&R for Warner Music Group — to run the re-activated Elektra in 2009, starting with Cee Lo Green, Justice and Little Boots. He signed fun. to FBR early in 2010. Janick, 34, and Caren were named to Fortune magazine’s “40 Under 40” list last year. Dangerbird Records co-founder Jeff Castelaz, who left the company last month, is in line to take over Elektra in the wake of Janick’s and Caren’s departures, sources told Billboard.biz.