HYBE AMERICA’s making moves with Gene Whitney stepping in as General Counsel. This signals a strategic push in their legal and corporate governance across the Americas.
HYBE AMERICA, the U.S. division of South Korea’s entertainment powerhouse HYBE, has appointed Gene Whitney as its new General Counsel, effective early January. In this high-profile role, Whitney will be responsible for overseeing the company’s legal strategy not only in North America but also in South America. His focus will include guiding corporate governance across all business units and supporting the ongoing growth of HYBE in international markets.
With over two decades of experience at the crossroads of music, technology, and media, Whitney brings a wealth of knowledge. He’s held senior roles at distinguished companies such as Riot Games, Amazon Music, Meta, SoundCloud, Vevo, and Universal Music Group. His most recent position was as the Global Head of Music Business Affairs and Label Operations at Riot Games. There, he was instrumental in defining the company’s global music strategy and led initiatives that bridged gaming, esports, and virtual entertainment.
Isaac Lee, Chairman and CEO of HYBE AMERICA, expressed confidence in Whitney’s capabilities, stating, “Gene brings a rare combination of legal expertise, business acumen, and a deep understanding of how music operates across emerging platforms.” He emphasized that Whitney’s guidance will be crucial as HYBE continues to expand globally and enhance the value of its artists and intellectual property.
Whitney himself remarked on his excitement about joining at such a pivotal moment, highlighting HYBE AMERICA’s mission to redefine music, storytelling, and global fandom. He looks forward to contributing to the company’s next chapter of growth and innovation.
Whitney’s appointment is part of a series of strategic hires at HYBE AMERICA, which recently saw the addition of Ethiopia Habtemariam as President of Music and Johanna Fuentes as Executive Vice President and Head of Communications and Public Relations. Last September, Jenni Pfaff also joined as Chief People and Transformation Officer. These moves follow a significant leadership transition last year when Scooter Braun stepped down from his role as CEO, and Lee took charge to lead the Americas, including oversight of various business units.
In addition, HYBE AMERICA has launched its new services unit, HYBE LABEL SERVICE (HLS), aimed at boosting artist growth in international markets. Ryan Hyeong Woo Noh has been promoted to Chief Business Officer to spearhead this initiative, further showcasing the company’s commitment to innovation and expanding its global footprint.