Ne-Yo Leaves Def Jam for Motown

The R&B singer/producer will become senior vice president of A&R.

Following his success in "Red Tails," the Grammy Award-winning singer/producer Ne-Yo recently left Def Jam to become the senior vice president of A&R at Motown Records.

"I'm honored that I¹ve been given such a prestigious title and trusted with such responsibility; terrified because I know that playing this role in the fashion of one of my career role models, Mr. Smokey Robinson — these are big shoes to fill. But trust, I can handle it," the singer said in a statement to MTV News.

Ne-Yo will also bring his Compound Entertainment group to Motown.

"His track record of success at Def Jam will always be a benchmark," Universal Republic and Island Def Jam Motown chairman/CEO Barry Weiss said. "But this move to Motown will provide new and inspiring challenges for Ne-Yo as both an artist and a key member of the new senior management team that is taking form at the label in 2012."

Along with creating four successful albums with Def Jam, Ne-Yo has also penned hits for Rihanna ("Take A Bow"), Beyoncé ("Irreplaceable") and Mario ("Let Me Love You").