(AllHipHop News) Island Def Jam Music Group, a division of Universal Music Group (UMG), has announced that it has appointed Joie Manda as President of Def Jam Recordings.

Barry Weiss, Chairman & CEO of Universal Republic and Island Def Jam, made the announcement that Manda will be taking the reigns and will be based in New York.

“As we look to expand Def Jam and our creative urban music activities even further, there is no one better to lead them than Joie,” Weiss explained. “He has emerged as one of the most respected young executives in today’s Urban music landscape, possessing all the qualifications and experience that are essential to run Def Jam, the world’s most important Hip-Hop destination. The entire Def Jam family looks forward to working closely with Joie as he puts his unique imprint on the next chapter in the label’s storied and successful history.”

Manda, who worked closely with Todd Moscowitz, CEO of Warner Brother Records, was appreciative of Weiss for the appointment. He succeeds former president and industry business mogul, L.A. Reid.

“Running Def Jam is the greatest challenge of my career,” Manda said, “and I am appreciative to Barry Weiss for his faith in appointing me to this position. I’m excited to work alongside Steve Bartels, who is one of the most talented music execs in the business and who has played such an important role in building the IDJ team. The Def Jam artist roster has always been synonymous with the greatest in Hip-Hop, and I intend to carry that tradition into the future.”

Manda comes to Def Jam from Warner Bros. Records, a division of Warner Music Group (WMG), where he was head of Urban Music dating back to September 2010.

Manda is known to have been heavily involved in the signing of Common, Rick Ross’ Maybach Music Group (which includes Wale and Meek Mill), Waka Flocka Flame, Jill Scott, and other prominent Warner Bros. artists. Manda earned his stripes at WMG as Executive Vice President of Asylum Records, reviving the label in 2004 and signing Paul Wall and Bun B.

The news comes amidst rumors that Rick Ross would like to re-negotiate his Def Jam deal, as he discussed the topic recently on New York’s Hot 97FM.