Bradford Literature Festival appoints John Makinson as the new chair

Bradford Literature Festival has appointed John Makinson as the new chair of the Board, effective from 1st October.

Makinson’s previously served as chairman and c.e.o. of Penguin from 2002 to 2012, and later as chairman of Penguin Random House between 2012 and 2015. He currently chairs the Advisory Board of the Bodleian Libraries at Oxford University and is a board member of Harvard University Press.

Makinson is also a director of Mercy Corps, an international humanitarian organisation, and has previously served as chairman of the National Theatre from 2010 to 2016 and managing director of the Financial Times.

Makinson joins as the festival celebrated its 10th anniversary, with a record-breaking audience of 155,934 from 24 countries. His appointment was facilitated by Leathwaite.

Syima Aslam, c.e.o. and artistic director of the Bradford Literature Festival, said: “As I reflect on BLF’s achievements, I look forward to our next era, building on the success of our first decade and expanding our audiences to deliver even greater social impact.

"With John Makinson’s leadership, support and extensive experience in the creative industries, we are ready to grow our national and global presence and partners, to make an even greater contribution over the next 10 years. We remain committed to ensuring that literature and the arts are accessible to all, creating a space where diverse voices can thrive.”

To find out more about the Bradford Literature Festival, you can visit bradfordlitfest.co.uk