UK music rights organization PPL has appointed Anne-Marie Pearce as its new Chief Financial Officer.
She succeeds Chris Barton, who announced earlier this year he would be leaving the collective management org at the end of 2025.
As CFO, Anne-Marie will join the Executive Leadership Team, reporting to CEO Peter Leathem OBE.
She will oversee the Finance and Distribution teams, who are responsible for the payment of royalties to PPL’s recording rightsholders and performer members, as well as running both the Finance and Distribution Committees.
Pearce will also become a board member of PPL PRS Ltd, the public performance licensing joint venture operated by PPL and PRS for Music.
The exec brings over 20 years of senior finance leadership experience across the media, entertainment and advertising sectors, having qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Arthur Andersen.
She joins PPL from Publicis Groupe, where she served as UK Country CFO, responsible for its portfolio of world-leading agencies across its Creative, Production, Media, Influence and Healthcare practices.
Prior to Publicis Groupe, Pearce was Group & Commercial Finance Director for Global Media & Entertainment, overseeing its Audio, Digital and Outdoor businesses across the UK, EMEA and North America.
She spent the majority of her career at The Walt Disney Company as Finance Director for Disney’s UK media businesses, spanning program and digital distribution, media networks, social and mobile gaming, and advertising sales and brand partnerships.
During her tenure, Pearce was the commercial finance lead for Disney’s first global direct-to-consumer subscription video offering in the UK, which later evolved to become Disney+.
Outgoing CFO Chris Barton joined PPL in 2005 as a Financial Analyst and worked his way up to Financial Controller by 2009, before being appointed to the Executive Leadership Team in 2014 as Finance Director. He was named PPL’s CFO in 2018 and became a board member of PPL PRS Ltd in the same year.
Courtesy of PPL
“Anne-Marie’s proven track record of driving transformation, delivering operational efficiencies, and supporting strategic growth in complex, fast-moving environments makes her the ideal choice to help drive PPL’s next phase of growth.”
Peter Leathem PPL
Peter Leathem OBE, CEO of PPL, said: “Anne-Marie’s proven track record of driving transformation, delivering operational efficiencies, and supporting strategic growth in complex, fast-moving environments makes her the ideal choice to help drive PPL’s next phase of growth as we look to deliver our vision to be the number one choice for neighbouring rights globally.
“I would also like to thank Chris for his dedication and loyalty to PPL. His integrity and wisdom have been invaluable to the company, and we wish him the very best with everything to come.”
Anne-Marie Pearce added: “PPL plays a crucial role within the global music industry to ensure its members are fairly compensated for the broadcast and public performance use of their recorded music.
“My career has been shaped by a passion for transformation and collaboration, which are shared values at the core of PPL.”
Anne-Marie Pearce
“Peter, the Board, and the wider leadership team have established this position through continued investment in technology, wider industry collaboration, and by building a culture of transparency, respect and trust, leading to record revenues of over £300 million in 2024.
“My career has been shaped by a passion for transformation and collaboration, which are shared values at the core of PPL. I am excited to join the organization as it embarks on its next chapter of growth.”
“It has been a privilege to serve as CFO and to be part of the company’s journey for the past 20 years.”
Chris Barton
Chris Barton said: “It has been a privilege to serve as CFO and to be part of the company’s journey for the past 20 years. I am proud of what we have achieved together and grateful for the support of my colleagues and the Board.
“I look forward to seeing the organisation go from strength to strength, and I wish Anne-Marie and the entire PPL team every success for the future.”
Elsewhere at PPL, Dr. Richard James Burgess MBE was recently named as the new chair of the UK music rights org, effective January 5, 2026.
Burgess succeeds John Smith OBE, who will be stepping down after nearly a decade leading the board.
