According to a report from Billboard this morning, Milwaukee music ex-pat Jeff Castelaz is stepping down as president of Elektra Records at the end of the month.
The Billboard article notes the motivation for the move is to focus on his Cast Management company, which he founded here in Milwaukee while managing Citizen King back in 1992. Cast now represents Celtic rock band Dropkick Murphys, producer/mixer Tony Hoffer and writer/producer Justin Meldal-Johnsen.
The article also notes Castelaz wants to focus more on his charitable efforts, including The Pablove Foundation, a childhood cancer organization which the music entrepreneur created with his wife Jo Ann Thrailkill in 2008, after the passing of their son Pablo.
"Running Elektra Records has been a dream come true," Castelaz told Billboard in the report. "Being part of Atlantic Records Group, I've learned so much from Craig and Julie, and will forever count them as business mentors and friends.
"But I've been accused of being a serial entrepreneur," he continued. "I build something, I get it to the best place I can, and then I start dreaming of what's next. Being a manager really satiates that part of me because each producer or band I manage is a different entrepreneurial project, because those business are constantly iterating and changing – and that really turns my crank."