Kobalt Neighbouring Rights (KNR) has increased its US activities with the appointment of Jesse Willoughby as Business Development Manager.He will represent KNR in the US, managing and further developing relationships with existing clients, as well as identifying and adding new clients to the KNR roster.Based in LA, he will report to KNR’s Managing Director Ann Tausis in London.Willoughby brings with him over eight years of experience in performing rights from his various roles at the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP). Most recently this was as Director for the pop/rock membership and, prior to that, as the Associate Director for the Nashville membership. Ann Tausis, Managing Director of KNR, said of the appointment: “We’re happy to welcome Jesse to the Kobalt family. His experience in the performing rights sector, and particularly in relationship management, will be hugely valuable as we look to take KNR further forward in the US – a market which is notably more complex when it comes to Neighbouring Rights.”Jesse Willoughby added: “I’m very excited to have the opportunity of joining a company with the global impact of Kobalt. The reputation of the company precedes it, and I look forward to being part of the KNR team and contributing to its ongoing success.”