FRAN NEVRKLA, CHAIRMAN AND CEO, PPL AND VPL, ANNOUNCES SUCCESSION PLAN FOR THE ORGANISATION

08 June 2011

Fran Nevrkla has today announced his succession plan
for music and video licensing companies PPL and VPL.

With unanimous approval from the Boards, Nevrkla, who was appointed to
his current position in October 2000, has decided to step down as CEO of
PPL and VPL at the end of the year, whilst remaining as Chairman. Peter
Leathem has been named as the new Chief Executive Officer from 1 January
2012 and with immediate effect is appointed Managing Director of PPL and
VPL in advance of assuming the role of CEO.

“I am thrilled and deeply honoured to be appointed CEO of the company at
the beginning of 2012,” said Peter Leathem. “My thanks firstly must go to
Fran who has taken the company to a level that would have been unforeseen
by the industry when he came here in 2000. In that time I have learnt a
huge amount from him which I know will stand me in good stead to face
the inevitable challenges that will come in the future. In seeking to continue
the progress that PPL has made since 2000 it is reassuring for me to know
that Fran’s experience and guidance will be retained as he stays on as
Chairman. I would also like to thank the Boards for showing their faith in me.
As the industry continues its evolution, I am fully aware of the responsibility
of running a company that this century has already collected nearly one and
a quarter billion pounds in licensing revenue. I very much look forward to
working with all the company’s stakeholders to manage the rights mandated
to us.”


Peter Leathem joined PPL as Head of Legal and Business Affairs in 2002
and, following several positions within the company since that time, was
appointed Executive Director in October 2008. Prior to joining the company,
he was a partner for 8 years with city law firm GSC Solicitors, where he
specialised in intellectual property and was Head of the Intellectual Property
Department. Succeeding Peter Leathem in his capacity as Company
Secretary will be David Harmsworth, Head of Legal and Business Affairs

“I am delighted that the succession plan which has been carefully thought
through received the unanimous support of the Boards. I considered it my
absolute duty to ensure that when the time comes I can hand the reins over
to someone who knows the business and can be trusted to carry on the good
work,” said Fran Nevrkla. “Much has been achieved over the last 10 years but
yet more has to be done and strived for and Peter’s appointment will provide
the necessary degree of stability and continuity to the organisation which is so
important to ensure further successes and achievements in the future.”

Fran continued, ”Peter and I have worked very closely and effectively together
for the last several years and I look forward to supporting him in my role
as Chairman for a little longer. I must say an enormous thank you to all my
friends, colleagues and contacts in the wider music industry, the political
arena and elsewhere for their visible and loyal support and encouragement
to me personally over the years. A special thank you goes to the main PPL
Board, the Performer Board and the various committees all of whom have
played such a crucial role during the “PPL journey”.”