Will Tanous, executive VP of communications and marketing for Warner Music Group, is moving to Universal Music Group as EVP and head of global communications, a new post following the exit of its communications chief. 

Will TanousPeter Lofrumento, president of global comms. and chief comms. officer, is leaving the company, which merged with EMI is a megadeal last year and is owned by Paris-based media giant Vivendi.

Tanuous is slated to take up the new role on April 15 heading internal and external comms., as well as social responsibility for the music company, based in its Santa Monica, Calif., headquarters. He reports to chairman and CEO Lucian Grainge.

He spent 10 years at WMG in comms., IR, marketing and CSR roles, through the music industry's rocky shift to digital and two sales of the company (for $3.3B to Access Industries in 2011 and to a private equity group for $2.6B in 2004), as well as its 2005 IPO.

In a statement, Grainge noted Tanous' reputation as a strategic advisor to many CEOs in the media industry. "  He has a deep understanding of the opportunities and challenges related to the intersection of entertainment and technology, and as such, joins UMG at an important time in the evolution of our company," said Grainge.

Universal merged with EMI in a $1.9B deal approved last fall.