Alison Smith To Retire From BMI

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Alison Smith. Photo: JC Olivera for BMI

After nearly 40 years with BMI, Alison Smith, Executive Vice President and Chief Distribution & Publisher Relations Officer, announced today (Jan. 28) that she will retire from the company at the end of March.

Smith joined BMI in 1985 as a temporary worker in the company’s Nashville office. She went on the spend her entire career at the organization, working in multiple departments and taking on increasing responsibility throughout her tenure.

“This has by far been the hardest decision I have ever had to make in my career. I love BMI, I love my BMI family, and in some ways can’t imagine not being here,” Smith shared in a company-wide memo announcing the news. “That said, after many months of contemplating what my future may hold, I concluded that it is time to spend more time with my family and friends while I am still relatively young and can enjoy life away from BMI.”

In his own memo, BMI President and CEO Mike O’Neill said, “I have known Alison since I began working at BMI 30 years ago, and she has been a colleague, partner, advisor and friend to me every day that I have been here. Alison is part of the fabric of BMI, and she has helped us become the company we are today. She has touched so many lives in an indelible way, not just internally at BMI but also within the larger music community. She will be missed.”

O’Neill also announced that Smith will continue to support BMI as a strategic advisor for the next two years, and that Nashville-based Shouvik Das, SVP of Distribution, Publisher Relations & Administration Services, will assume oversight of that department, reporting directly to him.

“Over the past few years, Shouvik has played an increasingly important role within that team, becoming more involved with the strategic operations of that group. I have full faith in his leadership and vision moving forward.”

LB Cantrell
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