Since joining Universal's predecessor PolyGram in 1981 Berg has built up a reputation in the industry as the leading executive in the commercial marketing arena, having been involved in countless hugely-successful catalogue and compilation albums. His interests have even stretched into the West End and beyond after the Dreamboats and Petticoats compilation brand he created turned into a stage musical.

But Berg, who after a long spell running UMTV last year became president of Universal Music Enterprises, has now decided ...