LONDON, March 18, 2025 — ALCS is pleased to announce that Lord Tim Clement-Jones CBE has been appointed as its new Non-Executive Chair. He succeeds Tom Chatfield, whose tenure ended in January 2025.
As a long-standing advocate for ALCS, Lord Clement-Jones will bring his dedication to supporting writers to the organization, along with his commitment to helping ALCS solidify its position as a leading champion for writers’ rights in the digital era.
Lord Clement-Jones, who previously held prominent legal roles at London Weekend Television and Grand Metropolitan, and was instrumental in establishing the Liberal Democrat party, was granted a life peerage in 1998. He currently works as an AI Policy and Regulation Consultant with the global law firm DLA Piper. Additionally, he serves as the Vice Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Intellectual Property Group, is a co-founder and co-Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Artificial Intelligence, and is a long-time supporter of the All Party Parliamentary Writers Group.
ALCS believes that his extensive experience in both politics and business will enable it to advocate more effectively for the rights of its members at this critical time for writers.
Lord Clement-Jones commented: “We are at a crucial time when we need to ensure that innovation in technology is not at the price of watering down creators’ rights but provides them with new opportunities. I am delighted to have been appointed as Chair of the Board of ALCS and am very much looking forward to helping it develop and deliver a positive future facing strategy for its writer members.”
Lord Clement-Jones’s extensive knowledge of technology, particularly AI, will be invaluable in light of the current challenges facing writers. He is the author of Living with the Algorithm: Servant or Master? – AI Governance and Policy for the Future, published last year, which draws on his extensive research and expertise in the field. He currently serves as the Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Science, Innovation and Technology in the House of Lords, and previously chaired the House of Lords Select Committee on Artificial Intelligence.
Lord Clement-Jones has also held positions in various educational and charitable organizations, including Chair of Council at Queen Mary University of London (“QMUL”) since 2016, and Chair of Council of the School of Pharmacy, University of London (2008-12) prior to its merger with University College London, after which he became an external member of the Council of University College London and Chair of its Audit Committee (2012-17).
Barbara Hayes, Chief Executive of ALCS, stated: “At this critical juncture in the discussion on AI, it has never been more important for ALCS to be able to stand up for the rights of writers. Having someone as experienced, knowledgeable and passionate as Lord Clement-Jones at ALCS will be key to ensuring writers are fairly compensated for their work as these technologies develop. We are delighted to be able to welcome him as our new chair and look forward to working alongside him.”
Authors’ Licensing & Collecting Society (ALCS)
ALCS is a non-profit organization founded by writers for the benefit of all writers. Owned by its members, ALCS collects royalties for secondary uses of writers’ work. It aims to support authors and their creative work, ensure they are fairly compensated, and protect their rights. It promotes copyright principles and advocates for fair treatment of writers. Representing over 125,000 members, ALCS has distributed over £700 million to writers since 1977.
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