Biography
Sir John Madejski OBE, DL made his mark in business as founder of Thames Valley Trader which would grow to become the multinational brand known as Auto Trader. He is currently Chairman and Director of six different companies worldwide and, perhaps most prominently, he took over as Chairman of Reading Football Club in December 1990.
During nearly a quarter of a century at the helm, Sir John Madejski entirely transformed the football club, guiding it through the transition from an outmoded Elm Park facility to the magnificent state-of-the-art Madejski Stadium in 1998, before directing the Royals into the top flight for the first time since its 1871 inception with a record 106 points in 2005-6. With Sir John as Chairman, the Royals were pitting themselves against the best players in the world for the first time in its 135-year history and, six years later, Reading were promoted to the Premier League once more – again as Champions! He sold a controlling share of the club in the summer of 2012 but he remains Co-Chairman at the club and will go on to become Life President at Reading.
Away from football, Sir John Madejski is an extremely successful businessman and much-admired philanthropist. Chairman of Clearview Traffic Group, owner of local radio station 107 Jack fm Berkshire and Rossini at The Leatherne Bottel, an Italian restaurant on the banks of the River Thames as well as the five-star Royal Palm Hotel in the Galapagos Islands.
A significant benefactor to the Royal Academy of Arts in London, Sir John Madejski funded a new garden at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London and a gallery at the Museum of Reading. In the world of education, he has financed The John Madejski Academy in Reading and, having been on the Board of Governors at Henley Business School for more than a decade, in 2007 he was made an Honorary Fellow for his contribution to the Business School, in particular his endowment of the John Madejski Centre for Reputation. In the same year, he was made an Honorary Doctorate of Literature at the University of Reading and instated as its Chancellor.
In 2000, he was appointed as Deputy Lieutenant of the Royal County of Berkshire and then awarded an OBE in recognition of his contribution to Reading Football Club and the Reading community. In 2006, he was admitted as a Freeman of the Borough by Reading Borough Council in recognition of the distinguished service rendered to the Borough of Reading and, three years later he was knighted for charitable services, the highest accolade in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours.
Sir John was succeeded as Chancellor in December 2016 by The Rt Hon. The Lord Waldegrave of North Hill. Sir John Madejski continues as an ambassador of the University in his capacity as Chancellor Emeritus.
