Michael Simon Tapped For CEO Post At HFA

NEW YORK (CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — Michael S. Simon has been promoted to President and CEO for rights management, royalty and licensing company, The Harry Fox Agency.

Simon has been with HFA for more than 11 years, serving in a variety of roles, including Senior Vice President of Business Affairs, General Counsel and Chief Strategic Officer.

Prior to joining HFA, Simon was the Executive Vice President of Business Affairs and General Counsel for technology business consultants Razorfish, Inc. Prior to Razorfish, Simon helmed Simon Ventures, an artist management and consulting company who's roster of artists included the Honeydogs and the Gigolo Aunts. Simon also has experience at Polygram Records as Senior Director of Legal Affairs and spent time at several entertainment law firms, including Levine Thall Plotkin & Menin and Rubin Baum Levin Constant & Friedman.

"Since he joined HFA in 2001 to head the licensing division, Michael Simon has been a strong advocate to modernize HFA and move the company into new lines of business, progressively overseeing more of HFA and proving himself a leader and visionary within the organization," said Irwin Z. Robinson, Chairman of the Board. "We are grateful to Gary Churgin for leading HFA though its technology transformation while also navigating some of the most radical changes to music licensing in the past fifty years. Choosing Gary’s successor was a very easy decision for the Board and me, and I know that Michael will continue to expand HFA’s position as the foremost rights licensing partner in the U.S. as well as strengthen the focus on customer service for publishers and licensees."

Simon is replacing Gary L. Churgin, who oversaw HFA's digital transition. No reason was given for Mr. Churgin's departure. – CelebrityAccess Staff Writers