A2IM Announces Promotions and New Hires

A2IM (The American Association of Independent Music) is excited to welcome a new General Manager to the team and would like to congratulate several others on their well-earned promotions.

With a renewed contract, Dr. Richard James Burgess will continue to lead the charge and will now serve as President and CEO of the organization. His diverse knowledge and experience in all areas of the business combined with his visionary leadership and tireless commitment to the cause have propelled A2IM’s influence within the entertainment landscape. Burgess’ progressive mindset has led him to ceaselessly push boundaries to better the industry at large, instituting policies that advocate for gender equality and equal pay.

“Since having the good fortune to be appointed CEO of A2IM three years ago, I have been blessed with enthusiastic and talented team members along with a highly participatory and knowledgeable board. Thanks to our team’s hard work and the dedication and vision of our board, we have more than doubled revenues, increased membership by nearly seventy percent, and attendance at our various events is up by several hundred percent,” says Burgess.

The independent music advocacy group has added Andrea Pagnanelli to the team, who will serve as the organization’s General Manager. Named one of Forbes’ 30 under 30 and New York Business Journal’s Woman of Influence, Pagnanelli brings a drive that matches A2IM’s ever-growing vision.

Prior to joining the team she served as Executive Vice President, Venue and Event Strategy for the Los Angeles Football Club where she oversaw all events outside of LAFC home games including concerts, festivals, sporting events, conferences, and more. She has also held roles at Relevent Sports, the Phoenix Suns and the New York Jets, where she became one of the youngest sales managers in the history of the league. Additionally, she founded LeapSeats, an in-venue seat upgrade app, that allowed fans to upgrade their seats and get closer to their favorite artists in venues around the US.

Patrick Ferrell has been promoted to Head of Label Relations from his previous position as Director, Member Services. Patrick joined the A2IM team in April of 2016.

Lisa Hresko has been promoted to Senior Director, Associate Member Services and International Relations from her previous role as Senior Manager, Member Services.

Sheryl Cohen has been promoted to Senior Director, Culture & Oversight from her previous role asDirector, Culture and Oversight. Sheryl has been with A2IM since March of 2016.

Courtnay Newman has been promoted to Manager, Member Services and Partnerships from her previous role as Coordinator, Member Services.