Release Date 22 August 2012

The University of Reading is delighted to announce that Sir John Madejski, OBE, DL, DLitt, has been re-appointed as Chancellor of the University.

Sir John was first installed as the Chancellor of the University of Reading in 2007. He has now been formally re-appointed for the period up to 2017. As Chancellor, he acts as a figurehead for the University and represents it to many audiences.

Mr Christopher Fisher, President of the Council of the University of Reading, said: "In his first five years as Chancellor, Sir John has been an energetic ambassador for the University, helping celebrate the successes of our students and our staff and representing the University at high profile events, including welcoming Her Majesty the Queen to the University this summer.

"On behalf of the University Council, I am delighted that he will be reaffirming his strong association with the University and look forward to his continuing help in ensuring we maintain and, indeed, enhance the excellent profile of the institution locally, in the UK and around the globe." 

Sir John Madejski, Chancellor of the University of Reading, commented: "I am delighted to be invited to continue my role as Chancellor of the University of Reading. I take great pride in the world-wide impact of the research and the excellence of the teaching being undertaken at the University, as well as the significant contribution that the University, its students and staff make to the economic and social well-being of the communities in Reading, Wokingham and the wider Thames Valley."

As Chancellor, Sir John acts as presiding officer at graduation ceremonies and hosts high profile events such as the Chancellor's Award reception for outstanding student achievement. He has championed the contribution of Reading students to the local community through the Student Community Awards, and has played his own part in an on-going research project, jointly conducted by the John Madejski Centre for Reputation at the Henley Business School and the Centre for Integrative Neuroscience and Neurodynamics at the University, which is investigating what makes successful business leaders.

There is no name more synonymous with contemporary Reading than that of Sir John Madejski who, in 1976, founded the Thames Valley Trader, now known as Auto Trader. Sir John became Chairman of Reading Football Club in 1990, and has given his name to the Club's Madejski Stadium. He is also a benefactor to the Royal Academy of Arts, the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Museum of Reading, and is the patron of the John Madejski Centre for Reputation at the University's Henley Business School.

Sir John 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, Sir John was awarded the OBE and was knighted in the 2009 New Year Honours list for his services to charity. He is also a Deputy Lieutenant of the Royal County of Berkshire. 

ENDS

Further information from the University of Reading press office on 0118 378 8005.

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Notes to editors:

At its meeting on 9 July 2012, the Council of the University re-appointed Sir John Madejski, OBE, DL, DLitt, to the Office of Chancellor for the period up to 31 December 2017.

The University of Reading is a global University ranked in the top 1% of universities world-wide (THE World University Rankings 2011).

The University of Reading is one of the UK's top research-intensive universities. The University is ranked in the top 20 for the number of awards it received from research councils for 2010/11. In total we received 38 awards, placing us at position 20 out of 218 institutions. 

Standards of teaching are excellent - the University scored highly in the National Student Survey 2011. 89% of Reading students responding to the survey stated they were satisfied with the quality of their course.

The University is estimated to contribute over £650 million to the local economy annually.