Matching Engine has appointed former Kobalt Music Group executive Simon Dennett as Chief Product Officer, bringing extensive experience across music rights, technology, product development and commercial strategy to the platform.

Simon spent 14 years at Kobalt during a significant period of growth for the business and joins Matching Engine as it supports Collective Management Organisations (CMOs) across 13 countries in Europe and North America, including IMRO, SOCAN, TONO and TEOSTO.

This year, CMOs using Matching Engine are expected to distribute more than €1.2 billion in royalties to over 500,000 creators and rightsholders worldwide.

Bringing extensive music rights and technology experience

Simon’s career spans music rights, product development and technology. His experience includes work across Kobalt, its global digital collection society AMRA (American Music Rights Association), and recording business AWAL (Artists Without a Label), as well as building, advising and investing in businesses focused on rights, intellectual property and technology.

“Having been a core part of scaling Kobalt and its global collection society AMRA, Simon understands the rights problem from all sides: writer, publisher and collection society. As Matching Engine grows internationally, that experience will be instrumental in helping CMOs meet the challenges ahead.”

John Corley

CEO and Co-Founder, Spanish Point Technologies and Matching Engine

“Rights management is becoming more data-intensive and technically demanding, with AI significantly amplifying that trend. The industry needs platforms that can manage this step change without compromising accuracy, transparency or speed. Matching Engine has built a strong foundation with leading CMOs, and the opportunity now is global. My focus will be on strengthening the platform to stay ahead of the challenges to come as we expand into new markets.”

Simon Dennett

Chief Product Officer, Matching Engine

Strengthening the team

Simon’s appointment comes at an important stage for both Matching Engine and Spanish Point Technologies, with Spanish Point having doubled its team since 2023 to more than 120 people.

Spanish Point has also appointed technology entrepreneur and investor Brian Caulfield as Chairperson to support the wider business as it continues to scale. Brian Caulfield is one of Ireland’s most active technology investors, as a Venture Partner and former Managing Partner at Molten Ventures. He chairs Scale Ireland and is a former Chair of the Irish Venture Capital Association and former director of The Irish Times.

Together, the appointments bring additional product, industry and technology experience into the business as Matching Engine continues to develop.