By Dan Rys, New York

Epic Records Chairman/CEO L.A. Reid announced today that Benny Pough would assume the role of Executive Vice President, Urban Music at Epic.

Pough previously worked for Motown and MCA Records/Universal before taking up his most recent post as Senior Vice President of Urban Promotion at Island Def Jam Music Group in 2004, where he had a major hand in breaking massive artists such as Rihanna, Kanye West and Young Jeezy, among others. His responsibilities at Epic will include creating and overseeing urban promotion strategies and developing Epic's urban music business model, according to a press release.

"I am extremely pleased and honored for the opportunity to work with an iconic label such as Epic Records and with such an extraordinary leader," said Pough in the release. "I am looking forward to an amazing run and to making history."

Reid informed his staff that Pough will be reporting directly to him the executive VP's new capacity. "Benny's strong leadership and executive skills, coupled with his solid relationships with both artists and managers, make him a critical component of our mission to break and establish superstar artists," said Reid.