Directors UK hires Paul Sharp in new Director of Licensing role

Directors UK is delighted to announce the appointment of Paul Sharp in the newly created role of Director of Licensing. 

Collecting and distributing royalties and residuals for our members and ensuring they are paid fairly for the use of their works is at the heart of what we do. Our members’ works are being consumed more than ever across multiple existing and emerging platforms, but simultaneously we have seen creators’ rights being increasingly challenged. In recognition of this changing landscape, we’re enhancing how we can best protect directors’ rights. As Director of Licensing, Paul will play a key role in ensuring our members are fairly compensated for all uses of their work as it continues to be enjoyed by audiences in new ways. 

Paul joins Directors UK from the Royal Opera House where he has been leading the negotiations of fees, contracts and rights packages for all international production activity and has extensive experience of complex rights management in both live performance and associated media release.  

Directors UK CEO Andy Harrower added: “Paul will be leading our negotiations with broadcasters, producers and online platforms to ensure that our screen director members are paid fairly for the uses of their creations across all media. With Paul’s commercial experience and knowledge of complex rights deals, we will be well placed to secure the value that creators deserve - I am very excited to be working with him on this.”

Speaking of his appointment Paul said: “I am hugely looking forward to joining Andy and the talented team at Directors UK and have been impressed and energised by their palpable commitment to representing the interests of screen directors. I am eager to play an active part in realising the vision of this vitally important organisation and to work through the challenges and opportunities provided by the evolving media landscape to best protect the value of directors’ rights.”