Press Releases

John Madejski appointed as new Chancellor of University of Reading

Release Date : 11 July 2007

John Madejski has been appointed the new chancellor of the University of Reading, it was announced today.

Mr Madejski, 66, the chairman of Reading Football Club, will be installed formally as Chancellor at a ceremony in December. He succeeds Lord Carrington who was appointed the University's sixth Chancellor in March 1992.

The decision to appoint Mr Madejski was taken by the University's Council - the University's executive governing body – yesterday afternoon (Tuesday).

Mr Madejski said: "I am honoured to be appointed Chancellor of the University of Reading and I look forward to promoting this well respected educational institution. This comes at a very exciting time where recent research has identified the town of Reading as being the number one economic performer.

"We can be proud of this and also our University which provides students from the UK and across the world the opportunity to study in a fantastic environment at this leading centre for higher education."

University of Reading Vice-Chancellor, Professor Gordon Marshall, said: "I am delighted to announce that John Madejski has been appointed Chancellor of this University. He has an international reputation for his business achievements and has given much to the town through Reading FC, as well as giving much to the county of Berkshire though various business, educational and arts projects. I am sure he will be an excellent ambassador for the University both here in the UK and abroad.

"Lord Carrington has been an exceptional Chancellor who has contributed enormously to the University over many years. He has made innumerable friends and inspired everyone with his tireless work and unlimited enthusiasm for University activity."

The first Chancellor of Reading was JH Benyon, who held the post from 1926 until 1935. Lord Carrington took over from Lord Sherfield in 1992.

The Chancellor's role is to act not only as a figurehead for the University's activities, but also as an individual who will appeal to, and provide a role model for, the various constituencies the University serves, including most obviously its students and its local, national and international stakeholders.

John Madejski OBE DL, was born in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, in 1941. In 1976, he founded the Thames Valley Trader, now known as Auto Trader. In 1998 he sold his company Hurst Publishing for £174 million. Mr Madejski became chairman of Reading F.C. in 1990, and has given his name to the club's Madejski Stadium.

In 2006 he led the Royals to the Premiership for the first time in their 135-year history. He is also a benefactor to the Royal Academy of Arts, while the John Madejski Centre for Reputation at Henley Management College, the new garden at the Victoria and Albert Museum, a lecture theatre at the University itself and a gallery at the Museum of Reading also bear his name. Most recently, he helped fund the John Madejski Academy in Whitley, a secondary school striving to provide young people of Reading with a new type of creative learning environment. In 2000 Madejski was awarded the OBE in "recognition of his contribution to Reading Football Club and the Reading community".

He is also Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire. In 2006 he was admitted as a Freeman of the Borough "in recognition of the distinguished service rendered to the Borough of Reading, by his contribution to the growth and success of football in Reading, and by his support for education and arts".

Ends



Note to editors: The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Gordon Marshall, is available for interview this afternoon (Wednesday July 11).