Abou ‘Bu’ Thiam Appointed Executive Vice President at Columbia Records

Abou ‘Bu’ Thiam has been named Executive Vice President at Columbia Records, the label announced Tuesday.

Thiam has been a key industry player for some time, helping launch the careers of big names like T-Pain and Lady Gaga. He first got his start when his brother, singer Akon, first brought him on board as an A&R when he was negotiating his first label deal. At 28, Bu was hired as Def Jam’s youngest vice president of A&R, where he was able to A&R breakout albums such as Rihanna’s ‘Loud’ and ‘Talk That Talk’ albums and Jay Z and Kanye West’s ‘Watch The Throne.’ He later went on to manage Ye, whom he plans to continue to work with.

In his new position at Columbia, Thiam will work closely with CEO Ron Perry on A&R and strategic initiatives across all genres for the record label, whose roster includes Lil Nas X, Harry Styles, Adele, the Kid Laroi and many others.

Thiam already has a close working relationship with the label via a joint venture with his own company, Buvision, where artists KayCyy and Rican are signed.

“We all know breaking a new artist is very difficult, and to see the Columbia team be so committed in the early stages of KayCyy’s career — from marketing, strategic branding, his EP rollout etc. — was very impressive,” Thiam told Variety. “Columbia’s culture is breaking New artists — like Fivio, Lil Nas X, Polo G, the Kid Laroi — and Ron is a true music man at heart, you don’t see that type of artist development anymore.”

“Bu’s incredible musical instincts distinguish him as a great executive. His experience and success with some of the greatest artists of recent times make him a truly valuable addition to the Columbia team,” Perry said of Thiam.