Chief Executive Officer

All; London; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent licensing organization is seeking a Chief Executive Officer to lead their team and drive strategic initiatives across London and Edinburgh. The ideal candidate will possess proven strategic and commercial acumen, along with the ability to inspire diverse teams. This role offers a unique opportunity to impact the creative industries significantly during a pivotal technological transformation.

Qualifications

• Proven strategic and commercial acumen in leadership roles.
• Experience in innovation within complex environments.
• Ability to lead diverse teams with clarity, integrity, and ambition.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of 100+ across London and Edinburgh.
• Shape and deliver a strategy to maximize licensing revenues.
• Champion a copyright environment that sustains creativity.

Skills

Strategic and commercial acumen

Innovation experience in complex environments

Stakeholder management skills

Inspiring communication

Job description

Overview

The Copyright Licensing Agency (CLA) is seeking its next Chief Executive Officer.

CLA is a unique partnership organisation thatbrings publishers, authors and visual artists together to protect andremunerate creative endeavour.

Over more than 40 years, CLA has generated over£1.5 billion in collective licensing revenues, with revenue of £108.9m and arecord £95.4m distributed in 2024/25 alone.

CLA is successful because they innovate – adaptingto technological change and developing new licensing models, including recentadvances in artificial intelligence. CLA’s licences enable the efficient reuseof content by millions of students, employees and businesses across the UK,while also supporting over 40 international agreements, ensuring creators arefairly rewarded.

Role and responsibilities

The role of CEO is a high-profile and influentialposition, leading a team of 100+ colleagues across London and Edinburgh, andworking closely with CLA’s Board, Member organisations (ALCS, DACS, PICSEL,PLS) and international partners. The CEO will shape and deliver a bold strategyto maximise licensing revenues, create new business opportunities, and champion a copyright environment that sustains creativity for the long term.

Candidate profile

CLA is looking for an outstanding individual withproven strategic and commercial acumen, experience of innovation in complexenvironments, and the ability to lead diverse teams with clarity, integrity andambition. Candidates must demonstrate excellent stakeholder management skills,including developing collaborative relationships and working with Boards,government, and international partners, to support the Company’s commercialsuccess. Candidates must be inspiring communicators with the gravitas torepresent CLA on a national and global stage.

This is a unique opportunity to make a lastingimpact on the creative industries at a pivotal time of technologicaltransformation.

Apply and further information

Saxton Bampfylde Ltd is acting as an employmentagency advisor to the CLA on this appointment.

For further information aboutthe role, including details about how to apply, please visitwww.saxbam.com/appointments using reference QABWMA.