Ben Mortimer is President of Polydor Label Group (PLG), one of the U.K.’s most successful and influential record label groups, encompassing Polydor, Capitol U.K. and 0207 Def Jam within Universal Music Group U.K. With a career spanning journalism, A&R and senior leadership, he is widely respected for his instinctive ear for talent, collaborative approach, and long-term commitment to artist development.
Mortimer began his career as a music journalist, writing for titles including The Face and Mixmag, before moving into A&R at Virgin Records, working with artists including Jamie T and The Chemical Brothers. He joined Island Records in 2009, playing a key role in the launch of Florence + The Machine, before becoming Director of A&R at Polydor in 2012, where he worked with artists such as HAIM, James Blake, Lana Del Rey, Ellie Goulding, The 1975 and Michael Kiwanuka.
Appointed Co-President of Polydor in 2016 and sole President in 2021, Mortimer has led the label group through a period of sustained creative and commercial success. He has overseen a series of landmark releases, including The Rolling Stones’ Grammy Award-winning Hackney Diamonds in 2023 and new album Foreign Tongues, as well as Sam Fender’s 2025 Mercury Prize-winning album People Watching, which became the fastest-selling vinyl album of the century by a British artist. Sam’s collaboration with Capitol’s Olivia Dean on ‘Rein Me In’ also became a record-breaking chart hit. In 2025, the label group achieved a No.1 album with Florence + The Machine, a No.1 single with Lewis Capaldi, and multiple No.1’s with Olivia Dean, who became the first British female solo artist to place four songs simultaneously in the U.K. Top 10. Most recently, PLG has seen Grammy nominations for artists including HAIM, The Cure, and Olivia Dean – who went on to win the prestigious Best New Artist. There were also 2026 BRIT Awards success for Sam Fender and Olivia Dean, as they both took home multiple trophies.
In 2023, Ben Mortimer created dance imprint, Chaos. The label has had numerous successes, including breakout Irish artist Jazzy, BRIT-nominated Confidence Man, and most notably, the global dance smash Chrystal ‘The Days’ (Notion Remix), which was a Top 10 record in the U.K., Germany, Australia, and No.1 in New Zealand.
Known for his artist-first philosophy, Mortimer continues Polydor’s transatlantic legacy, supporting US artists such as Sabrina Carpenter, Billie Eilish and Olivia Rodrigo in building sustained U.K. success, while championing British talent on the global stage.