Def Jam Recordings has tapped industry veteran Faisel Durrani to handle day-to-day operations of the label as its new executive vice president / general manager, it was announced Monday by CEO Steve Bartels. “It’s a time of renewal and growth for this legendary company,” Durrani said in a statement. “I’m looking forward to meeting the challenges and seizing the opportunities of our ever-changing landscape.”

Bartels said Durrani will work with label evp Dion “No ID” Wilson to “help bolster the many artist development campaigns and aggressive branding goals we have set forth at the label” and predicted his “natural leadership abilities will immediately impact our internal process and subsequent results in the marketplace.”

Durrani has spent the last decade working outside the label system in executive roles at Live Nation and Parkwood Entertainment, the firm created to manage all aspects of Beyonce’s career. His days in the music business began in Canada and date back to 1985 with roles at A&M Records in Toronto as well as Polygram Canada’s A&M/Motown/Island before moving to New York City to be international manager of Mercury Records & Def Jam. He left for Island Records in 1997 and two years later was appointed president of Palm Pictures, owned by Island founder Chris Blackwell. In 2002 Durrani left Palm for the former Island Def Jam Music Group, where he rose to evp of international marketing. [Billboard]