RAINMAKERS 2020:
ON THE WAY

Rainmakers 2020, our latest anthology narrating the stories of top industry players, will be landing on desks with a resounding thud very soon. Among the careers profiled will be those of Jeff Harleston, Jay Marciano and Boyd Muir.

Ultimate multitasker Harleston was already a hugely influential player as UMG General Counsel and EVP/Head of Biz & Legal before he was tapped by overlord Sir Lucian Grainge to pilot Def Jam—and then made co-head of the label group’s Task Force for Meaningful Change. That’s what you call a full plate, but Harleston’s smarts, experience and civic-mindedness have enabled him to field these expanded duties with aplomb.

AEG’s Marciano is among the most important execs in the modern live space—and he’s helped form the contours of that space for decades. His efforts have been foundational in growing the company into the behemoth that has overseen tours for The Rolling Stones, Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift, Elton John and other megastars. Marciano has helped steer the generosity of the AEG Foundation and been a strong supporter of the Elton John AIDS Foundation, among other worthy causes.

As Universal’s EVP/CFO and President of Operations, Muir has played a fundamental role in the company’s dealmaking, including acquisitions and partnerships, and global financial operations. He’s held this demanding post for more than a decade, before which he performed a similar role at Universal International (under future knight Lucian Grainge). As the company’s international presence grows ever greater—with newly formed alliances in China and other vital markets—Muir has proven indispensable.