'Rock chick' Nancy leaves EMI

The final chapter is about to close on the Ken and Nancy Show at EMI as the world's third largest music group announced the departure of the remaining half of the Berry duo who have reigned at the heart of the global music industry.

Nancy Berry, famed for her "rock chick" fashions and outrageous behaviour, has left her job as vice-chairman of Virgin Music Group Worldwide after a 16-year career marred by allegations of nepotism and affairs with the rock stars signed to her British-born husband Ken Berry's label.

Staff in Los Angeles have been told of her immediate departure which follows the ousting of her husband, former head of recorded music at EMI, parent company to Virgin Records.

Mr Berry, responsible for the Spice Girls and nurturing Radiohead and Blur, was drummed out of his £3 million-a-year job last week with what some believe will be the biggest pay-off in British music history. He is negotiating a £5 million exit deal.

Following a profits warning and mounting criticism over EMI's progress in the US, Mr Berry, a former accountant from Ipswich, was replaced by Alain Levy, former head of Polygram.

Many people expected the departure of Mrs Berry, who is on the verge of divorce from her husband.