Music charity Help Musicians UK (HMUK) has appointed Indy Vidyalankara to the newly created role head of strategic communications.
Vidyalankara (pictured), who started her music industry career at Columbia Records, set up her own boutique PR business Indypendent PR in 2015, having previously served as director of communications at Sony Music UK.
Through Indypendent PR, she launched HMUK’s mental health service Music Minds Matter and its research report Can Music Make You Sick?, alongside other charity priorities.
Richard Robinson, CEO of Help Musicians UK said “We are delighted to appoint Indy, a seasoned and accomplished strategic communications expert, who joins the charity at a pivotal time in its evolution and growth.
"Having worked with the charity as a consultant over the past year, which saw the hugely successful launch of our Music Minds Matter service, Indy has shown herself to be an essential member of the team. She will be a huge asset to the charity and a key part of the leadership team, as we roll out our plans for the Music Minds Matter mental health service, plus our other vital programmes approaching the charity’s centenary in 2021 and beyond.”
Indypendent PR will continue working with its existing clients when Vidyalankara takes up her appointment at the end of April.
Vidyalankara added: “In my career, it has become increasingly important to me to be a real contribution to the music industry in which I serve, so working with music charities that really make a difference, like Help Musicians UK, has been hugely fulfilling.
"I couldn’t be more thrilled to be joining HMUK at this time. The sheer breadth, scale and ambition of the charity’s work is inspirational and the passion, dedication and commitment of the team reflects this. I am really looking forward to leading the charity’s strategic communications vision and being part of its vital work in the lead up to HMUK’s 100 year anniversary.”
