PRS for Music has announced that Karen Buse, executive director of membership and international, will be stepping down at the end of the year.
She will be succeeded by the society's current commercial director, Paul Clements, who has 21 years’ experience working across both the licensing and membership sides of the business. He becomes executive director for membership, international and licensing.
Buse, who was recently inducted into the Music Week Women in Music Roll of Honour, has been with the company for 28 years, after initially joining as a temp on a six-week contract.
Since then, she has worked her way up to become one of the most senior women in the music industry, leading a team of more than 120 people.
In the 12 years that Buse has led the membership and international department, she has seen international revenues triple, with international being PRS for Music’s biggest revenue source in 2016.
As a champion of diversity, she has also overseen the ratio of female PRS for Music members grow to a third.
Buse said: 'I’ve been lucky enough to combine all of the things I love into one role – international relations, commercial focus and a love of music.
'I am so proud of what my teams have achieved in the time I have been with them, and I know they will continue to do our members proud in the years to come under Paul’s leadership.
'I would also like to thank our members for all of their support over the years. It has been an honour to serve you all.'
Clements added: 'I would like to extend my warmest thanks to Karen and congratulate her on her incredible contribution to PRS for Music in all of the years that she has served the business.
'I am both delighted and honoured to be taking on this new role and look forward to the challenge of building upon Karen’s sterling work.'
She will be succeeded by the society's current commercial director, Paul Clements, who has 21 years’ experience working across both the licensing and membership sides of the business. He becomes executive director for membership, international and licensing.
Buse, who was recently inducted into the Music Week Women in Music Roll of Honour, has been with the company for 28 years, after initially joining as a temp on a six-week contract.
Since then, she has worked her way up to become one of the most senior women in the music industry, leading a team of more than 120 people.
In the 12 years that Buse has led the membership and international department, she has seen international revenues triple, with international being PRS for Music’s biggest revenue source in 2016.
As a champion of diversity, she has also overseen the ratio of female PRS for Music members grow to a third.
Buse said: 'I’ve been lucky enough to combine all of the things I love into one role – international relations, commercial focus and a love of music.
'I am so proud of what my teams have achieved in the time I have been with them, and I know they will continue to do our members proud in the years to come under Paul’s leadership.
'I would also like to thank our members for all of their support over the years. It has been an honour to serve you all.'
Clements added: 'I would like to extend my warmest thanks to Karen and congratulate her on her incredible contribution to PRS for Music in all of the years that she has served the business.
'I am both delighted and honoured to be taking on this new role and look forward to the challenge of building upon Karen’s sterling work.'
