PA Media Group chief Clive Marshall announced as new chairman of licensing firm NLA Media Access

Move comes as interim chair and board member Brian McCarthy announces retirement

Clive Marshall announced as chairman of NLA Media Access (NLA Media Access)

PA Media Group chief executive Clive Marshall has been announced as the new chairman of media licensing business NLA Media Access.

Mr Marshall, who has also headed the Australian Associated Press (AAP), will take over from Brian McCarthy, who is retiring from the NLA board after eight years, including a 12-month stint as interim chairman of the company.

NLA works on behalf of UK news publishers, including The Independent, to provide licenses for organisations making paper and digital copies of newspaper and news website content.

Henry Jones, NLA’s managing director, said he was “delighted” Mr Marshall was taking up the non-executive position.

“His knowledge of the industry, digital focus and track record will be of huge benefit to NLA at such an important time for the business,” Mr Jones added.

Mr Marshall said: “I am looking forward to joining the team as the NLA continues to explore growth opportunities, driving value for publishers and supporting journalism.”

As well as the AAP, Mr Marshall has also held senior positions at Canada’s CNW Group, Reed Elsevier and Trinity Newspapers.

As chief of PA Media Group, he currently oversees subsidiary PA, the national news agency for the UK and Ireland and the dominant supplier of UK multimedia content and services to customers across Britain and beyond.

Since Mr Marshall’s appointment in 2010, PA Media Group has acquired a range of specialist media companies, including stock imagery business Alamy; EBS, a TV metadata business; and social media video creation platform Wochit.