U.K.’s Official Charts Company Shares Leadership Update Following CEO’s Departure

The U.K.’s Official Charts Company has shared an update for its leadership following the departure of its former chief executive.

In March, Martin Talbot announced that he was stepping down from the role after 18 years. Talbot assumed the position in 2007 and led the OCC — which tracks music sales in the U.K. — during a revolutionary tenure which saw the charts adapt to new sales strategies and the introduction of streaming services. 

The Official Charts Company publishes a number of charts on a weekly basis, including the Official Albums Chart and Official Singles Chart, both of which are currently topped by Olivia Dean with her The Art of Loving LP and “Rein Me In,” a collaboration with Sam Fender.

In a memo sent to Billboard and a number of clients and partners, Official Charts’ chairman, Drew Hill, shared an update regarding their leadership structure in the coming months.

With immediate effect, Chris Austin and Becca Monahan will jointly assume interim leadership of the company as co-managing directors. Hill adds that “Chris and Becca will be further supported by Lauren Kreisler, ensuring continuity of senior management team leadership, and a consistent focus across all key areas of the business.”

The note continues that over the coming months, “the board will consider the long term requirements” of the Official Charts, and that it is “very much business as usual.” Hill also praised Talbot for his leadership over the past 18 years and said “his leadership has helped shape not only the organisation, but the wider UK music and entertainment landscape and we wish him every success in the future.”

The Official Charts company reports it is due to launch “a brand new, state-of-the-art data system later this year following the largest infrastructure investment in the company’s history” as part of a new contract with market research comapany Kantar, which was finalized in 2025.

Read the full memo below.

Dear clients and partners,

With the recent departure of Official Charts’ CEO Martin, I am writing to share an update about Official Charts’ leadership moving forwards

Naturally, I and the Board want to recognise Martin’s significant contribution to the Official Charts Company. His leadership has helped shape not only the organisation, but the wider UK music and entertainment landscape and we wish him every success in the future.

With immediate effect, Chris Austin and Becca Monahan will jointly assume interim leadership of the company as Co-Managing Directors. Both bring a strong understanding of our business and have the full confidence of the Board to lead the Official Charts in the coming months.

Chris and Becca will be further supported by Lauren Kreisler, ensuring continuity of senior management team leadership, and a consistent focus across all key areas of the business. 

Over the coming months the board will consider the long term requirements of the Official Charts.  In the meantime, it is very much business as usual. Our priorities remain unchanged, and the work Official Charts does with its clients and partners is hugely important. The Board is hugely excited about the future and looking forward to working with the team. 

Regards

Drew Hill

Chair, Board of Directors