CAA U.K. co-Head Emma Banks received the MITs gong in London Monday at a ceremony attended by the creme de la creme of the British music business. All were treated to some very special performances from Florence Welch, Beth Ditto and Texas.

“I stand up here I hope as a representative of the many women in the industry who may not have had the opportunity or the inclination to make their voice heard as I have,” Banks said.

“Mike Greek and I have worked together for the last 28 years, we’ve been together through some incredible highs and quite frankly some horrendous lows, but we’ve always been there for each other. He’s honest, trustworthy, reliable and kind. He is brilliant at his job and without him I really wouldn’t be here now.”

Peter Mensch and Red Hot Chili Pepper Chad Smith presented the gong to Banks who, as the first female exec to win, paid tribute to the network of women who supported her at the beginning of her career. She also nodded to her first employer, Wasted Talent’s Ian Flooks, Pretenders manager and “trailblazer” Gail Coulson, agent heroes the late Barbara Skydel and Marsha Vlasic, and all the other female talent in the room.

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