LONDON (CelebrityAccess) – UK music licensing company PRS for Music has announced Roger James as its new Chief Commercial Officer and General Counsel and Mark Krajewski as Chief Information Officer.
In these new roles, James will manage the Legal and Public Affairs team, steer PRS for Music’s licensing negotiations with TV and radio broadcasters, digital services and recorded media providers, as well as manage the relationship with joint venture partners and customers, while Krajewski will lead the IT and Transformation team at PRS for Music with responsibility for technology, data management, business intelligence, digital strategy and the systems that underpin the royalty processing and distribution capability for its members and international partners.
James, who most recently served as Head of Business Affairs for Simon Cowell’s Syco Entertainment, previously served as worldwide International General Counsel at Viacom. During his seven-year tenure with the company, he managed 120 lawyers, regulatory, compliance executives and support staff, and was responsible for all brands (including MTV, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, Paramount, Spike, Viva, Colors and Channel 5), all lines of business, joint ventures, strategic partnerships, strategic negotiations with all publisher, Performing Rights Organisations and record label licensing globally.
Krajewski, who began his career with property firm Hamptons International, has extensive technology and change leadership expertise built across a number of industries including retail, entertainment and legal services. He also previously worked with Value Retail, owners of luxury retailer Bicester Village, where he delivered a highly segmented multi-channel Customer Relationship Management solution that served over 30 million international customers. He has been working with PRS for Music on a consultancy basis for the last year.
PRS for Music Chief Executive Andrea C. Martin said: “Roger is a perfect fit for our business and I know will have an immediate and positive impact. With responsibility for our legal, licensing and partnerships teams, he will play a central role in our future growth, transformation and success. Mark has done an exceptional job as interim CIO and will accelerate the digital change needed in our business. Technology and data management is central to the service we provide to our members and customers and Mark’s expertise will prove invaluable as we build capability and improve our offering.”
James added: “I am extremely excited to be joining PRS at such a pivotal time in its evolution. We are in a golden age for content creation, with ever new business models and offerings coming to market. Music is – and always will be – the biggest emotional driver for content consumption and together with Andrea, I am looking forward to making our members music more accessible using the unique assets we have available to us in a truly compelling way.”
Krajewski said: “I’m delighted to be joining the PRS for Music team at such an exciting time and look forward to leveraging our data assets to help deliver an exceptional member experience.”
