Kobalt Music Publishing has promoted Leslie Ahrens to Managing Director and EVP, Creative, Latin America. The move follows the departure of division architect Nestor Casonu after 11 years.
What We Know: Ahrens steps into an expanded role with both creative and operational oversight. She now reports directly to President and CCO Jeannette Perez. Her roster includes marquee Latin acts like Karol G, Ovy On The Drums, and Arcángel. Kobalt also promoted May-Ling Mediavilla to VP/General Manager LatAm and Lea Moussa to VP, Business Development LatAm.
What They Said: President and CCO of Kobalt Jeannette Perez made clear this promotion was earned. “Leslie is a powerhouse whose deep-rooted relationships and fierce advocacy for songwriters have been foundational to our success in the region. This promotion is a natural evolution of her leadership; we have the utmost trust in her ability to marry creative excellence with operational precision. As she takes the helm as managing director & EVP, I am confident that Leslie’s vision will propel our Latin American business to even greater heights, further solidifying Kobalt’s position as the premier home for songwriters around the world.”
What Remains Unclear: Casonu’s exit raises natural questions about continuity. No details about his successor strategy or transition timeline have been shared. It’s also unclear whether Kobalt plans further structural changes across other regional divisions.
What It Means: Ahrens has been building toward this moment since joining Kobalt Music’s Miami office in 2014. She earned promotions to VP in 2016 and SVP in 2020, so this elevation feels earned. For Latin music executives watching closely, her rise signals that Kobalt Music remains committed to investing deeply in the region. Simply put, this is a significant leadership bet on one of music’s fastest-growing markets.
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David Hill serves as a Music Radio Editor, Columnist and Features writer for Barrett Media. A radio lifer with more than 30 years behind the mic, in the control room, and in the program director’s chair, David’s career spans influential stops at brands such as WIYY 98 Rock, WBAL-AM, and 99X. He has worked across multiple formats and ownership groups, including iHeartMedia and Cumulus Media, developing talent, breaking music, and navigating every major industry shift from diary to PPM and terrestrial dominance to streaming disruption. When he’s not writing or analyzing the industry, Dave runs The Tune Farm, a marketing firm built to help artists and brands grow audience the same way great radio always has—by creating connection, not just impressions. He can be reached at David@BarrettMedia.com.
