PRS Foundation announces Interim Chair, new trustee appointments and new staff members

06 June 2024 - Press release

 

• Susannah Simons appointed PRS Foundation’s Interim Chair
• Newly elected Trustees Jonathan Aitken, Suzanne Hughes, Crispin Hunt, Alex Kassner and John Minch also announced
• Ben Price, Hannah Bashir-Eviston, John Hendrickse, Palak Rannkka, Lloyd Francis and Tilly Fletcher have joined the PRS Foundation team over the last 6 months

 

PRS Foundation, the UK’s leading charitable funder of new music and talent development, announces today that Susannah Simons has been appointed as Interim Chair of the Foundation’s new-look Board of Trustees, and recent key team appointments for Ben Price, John Hendrickse, Hannah Bashir-Eviston, Lloyd Francis, Palak Rannkka and Tilly Fletcher.

Following a long career in Broadcasting and the Arts, Susannah Simons is currently Director of Content for Marquee TV the Global streaming platform for the Arts. Prior to that, she was Director of Partnerships for Canvas, the Arts Council England funded multi-channel network for the arts and Head of Policy and Outreach for BBC Radio and Music . She has been a trustee of PRS Foundation since 2018 and is also a trustee of One Dance UK and on the Honorary Council of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment.

Alex Kassner, Crispin Hunt, and John Minch from PRS for Music’s Members Council and Jonathan Aitken and Suzanne Hughes from PRS for Music’s Executive Leadership Team (ELT) have been elected as Trustees to PRS Foundation’s Board following a number of Trustees completing their terms on the Board. They join Michelle Escoffery as ‘Joint Trustees’, boosting strategic links with the Foundation’s main donor.

Over the last few months PRS Foundation has recruited new members of staff to replace exiting staff and bolster capacity in light of increasing demand for support from the charity. 

In the Grants Team, Ben Price and John Hendrickse have been appointed Grants & Programmes Managers. 

Ben Price will take up the new role this month managing the recently launched Early Career Promoter Fund. Based in Bristol as an Arts Manager, Producer and Programme Facilitator Ben has vast experience in the live sector as both a Tour Manager and Promoter rep. He has represented promoters for both Kilimanjaro Live and Communion Presents, looking after more than 700 shows over a seven-year period, ranging from small grassroots gigs to largescale concerts. Ben is also a trustee for Attitude is Everything and sits on the BPI’s EJAG committee. Ben also works with a roster of disabled creatives including Viktoria Modesta, Elle Chante and Musa Motha, and with the wider industry on representation and improved policies for the disabled workforce.

John joined the team in September from ILUVLIVE, a National Portfolio Organisation for Arts Council England and has worked as an artist manager taking artists from the start of their careers to international recognition. John has taken over the Grants & Programmes Manager role to run PPL Momentum Music Fund, PPL Momentum Accelerator and Hitmakerreplacing Kwame Safo who moved to the British Council.

Additionally, Hannah Bashir-Eviston and Lloyd Francis were appointed Grants Coordinators in November. 

Hannah has a background in Community Engagement within cultural and sports organisations focusing on widening participation. She is an avid music consumer and a songwriter in her spare time. Hannah will be working across the Open Fund for Music Creators, Talent Development Network, Early Career Promoter Fund, Glastonbury Emerging Talent Competition, International Showcase Fund, BBC Music Introducing Partnership and Oram Awards.

Lloyd previously led a transformative grant giving programme for homelessness charity Crisis UK. As one of PRS Foundation’s team of grants coordinators, Lloyd supports Women Make Music, POWER UP, Resonate, and PPL Momentum Music and PPL Momentum Accelerator funds. Lloyd is also an active DJ, performing most recently at Grassroots Grooves in Hackney.

Palak Rannkka joined PRS Foundation’s Communications Team as the new Communications Coordinator in November to develop the charity’s social media output on its fast-growing channels, following the promotion of Ali Williams to Communications Manager. Palak recently completed a Masters in Music Business from the University of Westminster whilst working as a freelancer with Name PR. Palak is also an accomplished music artist in her own right with over 330k YouTube subscribers.

Tilly Fletcher completes the team as PRS Foundation’s part-time Administrator – following current Administrator Laura Edwards moving from full-time Administrator to part-time in July last year. Tilly began her career in education/youth work before moving to arts administration. She loves music festivals and going to live gigs of every genre, and in her spare time runs a cabaret night in East London. Tilly supports administration and works across the Oram Awards, Talent Development Network and Glastonbury Emerging Talent Competition. 

Joe Frankland, CEO of PRS Foundation said, “I am excited to welcome Ben Price, John Hendrickse, Hannah Bashir-Eviston, Lloyd Francis, Palak Rannkka and Tilly Fletcher to the PRS Foundation team to fill key vacancies and help bolster the grants and comms team with their expertise and depth of knowledge after another year of huge demand for our support.

I am also delighted to welcome Susannah Simons to the interim Chair of the Board of Trustees position. Susannah has always been a huge advocate for the Foundation even before joining the Board officially and her experience and understanding of the sector has made a huge contribution to steering the charity already. I very much look forward to working with Susannah in her new role over the coming months, and as we look to recruit a permanent Chair.

Additionally, it is fantastic to have elected at our last Board meeting 5 new Trustees from the Members’ Council and ELT, reflecting the strategic importance of our relationship with our main donor, PRS for Music. Huge welcome to Jonathan Aitken, Crispin Hunt, Alex Kassner, Suzanne Hughes and John Minch.”

PRS Foundation are recruiting three more Trustees to complete the charity’s Board.  More information can be found on PRS Foundation’s website.