Independent music publisher Kobalt has named Rani Hancock executive vice president, head of U.S. creative, it was announced on Jan. 7. The A&r veteran will lead the company’s creative teams in New York, Los Angeles and Nashville.

Hancock most recently served as EVP, head of A&r at Columbia Records, where she worked on songs from such artist as Dove Cameron and Maren Morris. She began her career working with Clive Davis at Arista Records, later serving as EVP of A&r at RCA Records where she signed Miley Cyrus, Kesha and Becky G, among other chart-topping acts, while working on songs for Pitbull and Britney Spears, and president of Sire Records.

“Rani is a creative executive who has always looked at the songwriter as a foundational player in our business,” said Kobalt CEO Laurent Hubert in announcing her appointment. “That point of view, along with her vast experience in our business,...