Ancestry® appoints Jody Gerson, Chairman and CEO of Universal Music Publishing Group, to its Board of Directors

LEHI, Utah, June 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Ancestry, the global leader in family history, today announced the appointment of Jody Gerson, Chairman and CEO of Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) as an independent member of its Board of Directors.

"Jody Gerson is a visionary leader whose transformative impact on the music industry is matched only by her unwavering commitment to creativity, inclusion, and innovation," said Ancestry board chair Mark Thomspon. "Her deep understanding of storytelling and culture makes her an invaluable addition to Ancestry's board as we continue to help people discover, preserve, and share their unique family stories."

David Kestnbaum, a Senior Managing Director at Blackstone, said, "We are excited to welcome Jody to the Board of Ancestry. As an industry trailblazer and leading executive supporting world class creators and premium content, we look forward to her highly valuable perspectives and contributions as the company continues to help more people connect with their family histories."

Since joining UMPG in 2015 and becoming the first female Chairman of a global music company and the first woman to lead a major music publisher, Gerson has signed and worked with some of the world's most influential artists, including Adele, Elton John, Kendrick Lamar, Taylor Swift, and The Weeknd, in addition to leading landmark catalog acquisitions for artists such as Bob Dylan, Neil Diamond, and Sting.

"I'm honored to join Ancestry's board at a time when the connection between storytelling and identity is more meaningful than ever. As someone who has dedicated my career to helping artists tell their stories through song, I deeply value Ancestry's commitment to empowering individuals to discover and share their own," said Jody Gerson, Chairman and CEO of Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) and newly appointed Ancestry board member. "By connecting families and bridging generations through personal history, Ancestry is making a profound cultural and personal impact—and I look forward to contributing to that mission."

In addition to her impressive work in the entertainment industry, Gerson co-founded the nonprofit She Is The Music and serves on the boards of the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the National Music Publishers Association, Project Healthy Minds, and the New Roads School.

Prior to joining Universal Music, Gerson was Co-President of Sony/ATV Music Publishing and was previously part of the senior management team at EMI Music Publishing.

About Ancestry^®
Ancestry^®, the global leader in family history, connects everyone with their past so they can discover, preserve, and share their unique family stories. With our unparalleled collection of more than 65 billion records, over 3 million subscribers and over 27 million people in our growing DNA network, customers can discover their family story and gain a new level of understanding about their lives. Over the past 40 years, we've built trusted relationships with millions of people who have chosen us as the platform for discovering, preserving and sharing the most important information about themselves and their families.

Media Contact: Avery Barzizza, abarzizza@webershandwick.com

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SOURCE Ancestry