No succession plan or CEO search for Pandora. The abrupt change was announced in a press release Monday that founder Tim Westergren is back as CEO, replacing Brian McAndrews. McAndrews succeeded Joe Kennedy in September of 2013.
Other changes on the top floor include Mike Herring being named President and Chief Financial Officer and Sara Clemens has been named Chief Operating Officer. Chief Product Officer Chris Phillips takes on end-to-end product development and delivery.
Westergren said, “I am incredibly excited about the future of Pandora. We’re on the cusp of realizing an extraordinary vision: fundamentally changing the way listeners discover and enjoy music, and the way artists build and sustain their careers. We are pursuing a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create a massive, vibrant music marketplace. We have the audience, the technology infrastructure, the monetization engine, and, most importantly, the right team with the passion and commitment to do it. I’m 100 percent committed to Pandora’s growth strategy, as is our executive team and board.”
Brian McAndrews said, “I am honored to have been the CEO of Pandora for the past two and a half years, and I am proud of what I and our team of talented and highly passionate colleagues have achieved during this time. We have put in place a robust strategy to make Pandora the go-to source for fans and artists and position the company for long-term success in a highly dynamic space. With the team and strategy in place and execution underway, I am passing the baton on to Tim. I wish the company all the best as it continues on its next phase of growth.”
Current independent board member Jim Feuille is chairman of the board. “Pandora today is in a strong position to maximize our full potential and expand the music marketplace. Tim is the ideal CEO for Pandora as we embark on our next phase of growth. As the original founder, Tim carries the vision for how Pandora can transform the music industry and he is uniquely able to connect with listeners, music-makers, and employees. Pandora has become a stronger company under Brian’s leadership, and we thank him for his commitment and contributions to building Pandora’s core leadership team and strengthening its position in the market. Moving forward, we have an excellent executive leadership team that is focused on activating Pandora’s strategy and driving long-term value through a relentless focus on execution and operational excellence.”
