Smellie Retires

SONY BMG Music Entertainment COO Michael Smellie will leave at the end of the year and return to Sydney, Australia, to spend time with his family, according to the company.

He will remain a consultant and adviser to Sony BMG President Andrew Lack.

Smellie is a BMG veteran who was named COO in 2001, and took over the reins for a short time at Arista when Antonio “L.A.” Reid exited the label last year.

He oversaw the restructuring of BMG before its merger with Sony in August, and focused on the integration afterward.