Following her appointment as Deputy General Counsel in 2020, and after spending the last nine months as Interim General Counsel, Waite has been announced today as the most senior lawyer at the UK music licensing company PPL. Waite joined PPL in 2010, having previously worked as an intellectual property specialist advising on both commercial matters and litigation at a leading City law firm.
During her career at PPL, Waite has played a key role managing the in-house legal team and supporting some major developments for the company, including the creation of the public performance licensing joint venture, PPL PRS, which streamlined the licensing process for customers and represented a significant step forward in industry collaboration.
Waite is also lead for the company’s public affairs activity, working with government and industry partners to champion the rights of PPL members in discussions on the most pressing issues of the music community, such as the advance of AI, and the continuing debate around streaming remuneration. She has contributed to various industry committees concerning rights and policy matters, including at UK Music, the British Copyright Council and the BPI (British Phonographic Industry). She has also recently been re-elected as Chair of the legal working group at SCAPR, the international trade body for performer collective management organisations. Waite continues in her role as Company Secretary for PPL and PPL’s sister music video licensing company, VPL.
Peter Leathem OBE, Chief Executive Officer at PPL, said:
Camilla is a very well-respected lawyer across the music industry, and her ability and experience will be an invaluable addition to the Executive Management Team at PPL. I have had the pleasure of working closely with Camilla for many years as she was such an important colleague to the former General Counsel, the late David Harmsworth. She brings strong strategic competence, legal and business acumen, and an innate understanding of how to get business done in an industry where relationships remain so important.
Camilla Waite, General Counsel, said:
It is a privilege to join Peter’s leadership team and take the helm of PPL’s Legal & Business Affairs team at a time when the importance of protecting copyright and performers’ rights has such pertinence. Having spent 13 years learning from David, the best mentor in the business, I step into the role with both the utmost respect for the legacy in place, and a growing anticipation for the exciting work ahead. I am proud to be joining the management team of a company with such a wonderful culture, and look forward to continuing working with our partners, building a strong and robust music industry which is fit for the future.
