The press industry’s trade body has paid tribute to its legal affairs chief ahead of her retirement.

Santha Rasaiah, current director of legal, policy and regulatory affairs at the News Media Association, will leave her role at the end of the year.

Santha, who has previously worked in publishing and written on media law, has won awards for her representational work on behalf of the news media industry during her career.

NMA chief executive David Newell paid tribute to her “exemplary” service.

He said: “Santha has given enormous service to the NMA and to the industry with her forensic legal skills, powers of analysis and research and written and oral advocacy.

“She has also represented the NMA and the whole membership on a range of Government, judicial and wider industry bodies – both at a national and international level – in an exemplary manner. I wish her all the very best for the future.”

The NMA is now looking to recruit a new senior legal adviser.