María Fernández is the Chief Operating Officer of Latin Iberia at Sony Music Entertainment, where she leads operations for Latin America, Spain, Portugal and the US Hispanic market. From her base in Miami, she oversees finance, technology, business insights, communications, human resources, and mergers and acquisitions.
Born and raised in Venezuela, María’s passion for music shaped her path from the very beginning. She launched her career at Disney where she worked in different financial functions in Caracas, Miami and Buenos Aires. She then moved to DIRECTV Latin America overseeing finance and accounting functions. Maria was an entrepreneur in telecommunications and education starting in 2024. In 2007 she joined Sony Music Entertainment as Senior Director of Finance for Latin America, beginning a steady and remarkable rise through organization. She advanced to Vice President of Finance, then to Senior Vice President of Operations and Chief Financial Officer for Latin Iberia before being named Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer in 2018, and Chief Operating Officer, Latin Iberia in 2024.
Throughout her tenure, María has been the architect behind many of the region’s most significant deals. She led in the region the acquisition and integration of Som Livre, Brazil’s largest independent music company. She also directed the purchase of Altafonte, one of the largest independent music distributors in Spain and Latin America, with operations spanning a dozen countries. Beyond acquisitions, she has completed strategic joint ventures with key players across the industry, including labels such as Dale Play and several leading management companies, as well as partnerships with EVENTIM on ticketing. Maria has also led negotiations with top artists at the label.
María’s leadership has been widely recognized. In 2023 she received the RIAA Honors Executive of the Year award, celebrating her role as a driving force in the Latin music industry during a historic period in which U.S. Latin music revenues surpassed one billion dollars for the first time. She has been featured on Billboard’s Women in Music, Global Power Players, Latin Power Players and Power 100 lists, and in 2022 she was appointed to the board of Fender Musical Instruments Corporation, extending her influence across the broader music ecosystem. A lifelong learner, María holds an MBA with a focus on Business Analytics from the University of South Florida, along with master’s degrees in finance and strategic management. She is fluent in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and French, an asset that has made her an effective bridge between the region’s diverse markets.
Beyond her corporate responsibilities, María is deeply committed to mentorship, dedicating her time to guiding young professionals—particularly women—as they navigate careers in the music industry. She is a frequent voice on industry panels and a passionate advocate for empowerment, resilience, and purpose-driven leadership. For María, the mission has always been clear: to serve artists, teams, and partners, and to honor the power of music to move people and connect the world. She is married and the mother of David and Briana.
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