The post-Sean “Jay-Z” Carter era at Universal Music Group’s Island Def Jam began to take shape yesterday after the label named company vet Shakir Stewart executive vice president of its Def Jam Recordings unit.

While technically not a successor to Jay-Z, who was Def Jam’s president until last year, Stewart will oversee day-to-day operations and report to CEO Antonio “LA” Reid and COO Steve Bartels.