Ralph Kink joins GEMA as head of digital transformation
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On 1 September 2024, Ralph Kink will take over GEMA’s purpose-built digital transformation division. In this role, he will drive GEMA's technological development and serve on GEMA’s executive board. Kink has previously worked at Microsoft for 25 years, where he held various management positions and drove the digitalisation of companies in the German market. He is also co-founder and CTO of digital.fwd, a management consultancy specialising in digital transformation and artificial intelligence (AI).
The music market is in a state of upheaval. Digitalisation is changing how we use music and expectations for associated services are constantly rising. AI developments are creating new business models that are replacing traditional market structures and intensifying international competition. GEMA has numerous initiatives that address these changes, such as process automation and the development of new digital services. The newly created division for digital transformation tackles this, strategically combining the CIO office with the IT and project portfolio management departments, which together have a total of almost 200 employees.
Tobias Holzmüller, CEO of GEMA, says: "We cannot master contemporary challenges without our own technological expertise. This change has to start within our executive board. With Ralph Kink, we are gaining a capable and intellectually curious colleague. He will bring fresh perspectives and impetus to our organization and his extensive experience will help us to achieve our ambitious goals."
Ralph Kink, designated board member for digital transformation at GEMA, says: "Conceiving people-centric technology has always been at the centre of my work. I feel very honoured that I am now able to work with GEMA employees to ready our 95,000 members for the digital age and make my contribution to cultural diversity and commercial music performance. I am particularly looking forward to getting to know music creators and hearing their desires, concerns and ideas about the development of the music industry."
Ralf Weigand, chairman of GEMA's supervisory board, says: "Digitalisation and now generative AI are turning the music industry upside down. The tasks that GEMA faces are huge. Adding a digitisation expert to the executive board is a smart and courageous decision. Ralph Kink is a great choice. GEMA will continue to be the association for people who make music for a living in future."
GEMA represents the copyright of around 95,000 members in Germany (composers, lyricists, music publishers) as well as over two million rights holders around the world. It is one of the world's largest societies for authors of musical works.
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Ralph Kink, member of the managing commitee
Dr. Tobias Holzmüller, GEMA CEO
Dr. Ralf Weigand, chairman of the GEMA supervisory board