Peermusic Promotes Jody Farber to CFO as Longtime Finance Chief Retires

Indie music publisher and neighboring rights company Peermusic has made its second senior leadership change of the year, promoting Jody Farber to chief financial officer. The move was announced Tuesday by executive chair Ralph Peer II and CEO Mary Megan Peer. Farber, who joined the company in 2024 as senior vice president of finance and strategy, will be based in New York and report directly to Mary Megan Peer.

Her appointment follows last month’s promotion of Paul Smelt to the newly created role of COO, overseeing the day‑to‑day administration of publishing and neighboring rights divisions across Peermusic’s global offices.

As CFO, Farber will lead all financial operations, including global treasury, budgeting, accounting, reporting, deal analysis and long-term strategic planning. She will work closely with Peermusic’s worldwide leadership team to support the company’s ongoing growth.

Farber succeeds longtime finance chief Bill Gorjance, who is stepping down after two decades in the role. During his tenure, Gorjance helped triple the company’s revenues, expand its footprint into Korea and China, strengthen its neighboring rights business and modernize financial and administrative systems. He will continue his involvement with Peermusic part‑time as international vice president of the company’s classical division.

Before joining Peermusic, Farber spent 25 years in finance roles across the music, entertainment and nonprofit sectors, holding senior posts at Warner Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment South Africa, World Wrestling Entertainment and the South African nonprofit loveLife Trust. She has also served on boards and finance committees for several South African music rights organizations.

In a joint statement, the Peers praised Gorjance’s contributions and expressed confidence in Farber’s leadership. 

“[Gorjance’s] contributions go well beyond the financial and his wisdom has left an indelible mark on our company and writers,” they said. “As CFO, we are confident that Jody will ensure that peermusic’s profitable growth continues. In the two years she has been at peermusic, she has become an integral part of our global finance team. We know that she will bring continued commitment to financial integrity and operational excellence as we build successful partnerships with our songwriters and artists.”

Gorjance called his tenure “a dream job” and said he was “happy to hand a debt-free balance sheet over to Jody,” while Farber said she was honored to carry forward his legacy.

“I look forward to leveraging my industry experience and finance expertise while collaborating with our global finance teams,” she said. “Together we aim to serve our clients and business partners, ensuring the ongoing financial strength and success of our organization and our creative community.”

Founded in 1928, Peermusic operates 39 offices in 33 countries and is the world’s largest independent music publishing and neighboring rights company.