A leading festival for new music and industry networking will kick off this week with a new chief executive at the helm.

Rory Bett, of Hove, is in charge of MAMA and Company – the company which produces The Great Escape.

The ninth annual festival begins on Friday with more than 400 artists and scores of industry conferences spread across 35 venues in the city.

Rory said: “I have lived in Hove for 14 years and the city is the most dynamic, diverse, musically prolific and culturally progressive city in this country.

“For eight years, The Great Escape has proudly celebrated the discovery of young talent from around the world here in Brighton and the combination results in an unforgettable three days for visitors and locals alike... and I also get to walk to work for a few days.”

Rory joined the company in 2008 and turned a £150,000 turnover into a £1.8 million turnover in only eight months.

He then co-founded, as a sister company PAPA Projects, now MAMA Productions.

In 2012 Rory was promoted to group commercial director and the main board following the successful management buyout of MAMA from HMV in which he played a central role.

Rory has more than 25 years’ experience in senior management at leading blue chip media businesses including The NationalMagazine Company, Associated Newspapers, Capital Radio,EMAP, and latterly as sales director of the Telegraph Media Group.