The merger of entertainment group Universal and record company Polygram has been completed. The new group will be known as the Universal Music Group.

A new worldwide executive team has been named by the chairman and chief executive of Universal Music Group, Mr Doug Morris.

Among them is Mr John Reid, the former chairman and chief executive of Polygram Canada, who now becomes president of Mercury and Island Records, subsidiaries of the new group.

Mr Reid was born in Belfast and started his career as a tour and production manager for bands like U2 and Simple Minds.