Complex CCO Noah Callahan-Bever Scores Def Jam EVP Role

Former Complex chief creative officer Noah Callahan-Bever has landed a gig at Def Jam Recordings. Callahan-Bever has been hired as the imprint’s new executive VP of brand strategy and content. He’ll be working alongside Eminem’s manager and Def Jam’s incoming chairman/CEO Paul Rosenberg, who he met at Fat Beats in New York City circa 1998.

“Paul came by and was playing a CD that had ‘My Name Is’ and ‘Guilty Conscience’ on it — Max Glazer was the DJ there — and I was hanging out drinking coffee with my friend who worked the register on a Saturday afternoon,” Callahan-Beyer told Billboard. “All of a sudden I heard ‘My Name Is’ and I ran over to the DJ booth and said, ‘What’s going on here?’ [Paul and I] got to talking and I ended up flying out to Burbank and spending a week with Em while he mixed The Slim Shady LP. I’ve known Paul ever since.”

The longtime journalist will be tasked with assisting Rosenberg and executive VP/head of A&R Steven Victor to expand Def Jam’s reach and communicate its brand identity. He will also help articulate the stories of the ever-expanding Def Jam roster of artists, which includes Kanye West, Fabolous, Nas, Dave East, Vince Staples and Logic.