Photo Credit: Justin Bieber and Scooter Braun by Lou Stejskal / CC by 2.0
Scooter Braun is transitioning into a role at Hybe that lessens his time in the spotlight, stepping down as CEO and moving to an advisory position.
Scooter Braun is stepping down as CEO of Hybe America, the U.S. arm of the South Korean entertainment juggernaut. He will be moving to an advisory position that sees him joining the Hybe Board of Directors as both director and senior adviser to chairman and CEO Bang Si-Hyuk. The change marks the end of his five-year run as Hybe America’s CEO, following the sale of his Ithaca Holdings to Hybe in 2021.
The news was revealed to Hybe staff on Monday when Braun dialed in remotely, telling employees that the move was in the works “for quite some time.” Braun will remain active in current Hybe projects, including the recently launched girl group Katseye. He reiterated that he “isn’t going anywhere,” and will continue to “help guide” artists on Hybe’s roster.
“Being a part of Hybe and witnessing its remarkable growth has been one of the inspiring chapters of my professional journey,” said Braun. “Chairman Bang is a true visionary and a musical genius. What he has built with Hybe is unparalleled. I am incredibly proud of our collective accomplishments and look forward to supporting Chairman Bang and CEO Jason Jaesang Lee in their continued success as I step into what’s next.”
“Scooter has been an extraordinary partner, a visionary executive, and a true catalyst for cultural exchange,” said Hybe chief Bang Si-Hyuk. “His contributions have been vital in establishing our ambitious presence in the U.S. market. I am deeply grateful for his leadership, his astute instincts, and his unwavering passion for artists. We wish him immense success in his exciting next chapter and look forward to continuing our partnership in executing Hybe’s global vision.”
Braun’s career in the industry was built from managing artists like Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, Demi Lovato, J Balvin, and The Kid LAROI under SB Projects. He stepped away from the management side of things in 2024, when he announced on social media that he would be focusing on his role as CEO of Hybe America.
That move also coincided with Bieber parting ways with Braun, which reportedly turned ugly back in April due to financial struggles stemming from Bieber’s Justice tour getting cancelled in 2022. Ultimately, Bieber was left holding the bag, owing tour promoter AEG over $20 million.
Braun, still a manager at the time, covered was was owed through his company in the form of a loan. He also helped secure a $200 million catalog deal for Bieber’s songwriting interests—potentially the largest deal in the industry for an artist under 30.
Sources say the settlement between Braun and Bieber is completed, though the relationship appears to remain contentious. Braun’s final act at Hybe, a source tells The Hollywood Reporter, was to “close the book” on the Bieber situation.
In Braun’s place, Isaac Lee will be stepping into the CEO position, who has been chairman of Hybe Latin America since late 2023. Lee, whose new title is chairman and CEO of Hybe Americas, will have oversight into Nashville’s Big Machine Label Group and Atlanta’s Quality Control Media Holdings.
It’s unclear what Braun’s next move will be, but he remains one of Hybe’s largest individual shareholders.
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