Costa Pilavachi began his career in the recording industry as Vice-President, Artist and Repertoire of the Dutch-based Philips label, 1989-1997. He then served as President of three major classical labels, Philips Classics, Decca Music Group and EMI Classics between 1997-2009. In 2010 he was appointed Senior Vice-President, Classical Artist and Repertoire of Universal Music Group, overseeing the artistic direction of the Deutsche Grammophon and Decca labels worldwide.