Gatfield's music career began in 1979 when he replaced Neil Pyzer in a Farnborough / Aldershot jazz funk band called Crosswinds.
[6] In 1982 he joined Dexys Midnight Runners, playing saxophone and keyboards in support of the number one album Too Rye Ay and global hit single "Come On Eileen".
After recording the follow-up album Don't Stand Me Down, Gatfield joined EMI in 1985 as an A&R manager and in-house producer, before being promoted to head of A&R in 1987 where he oversaw the signings of Radiohead and Blur.
[7] In 2008, EMI's new management under Terra Firma hired Gatfield as President New Music, North America and UK – artists signed during his leadership include Deadmau5, Swedish House Mafia, Tinie Tempah and Emeli Sandé.
Gatfield was awarded International Music Executive of the Year 2013 at Worldwide Radio Summit in Los Angeles.