Perry appointed Book Trade Charity chief exec

Vic Perry, formerly of Jaguar Land Rover, has been appointed as the c.e.o. of the Book Trade Charity (BTBS), taking over from David Hicks when he retires on 31st March after 27 years.

Perry is currently consulting for the charity Home-Start UK supporting its corporate partnership with John Lewis and Waitrose. Previously, she was global social impact manager for Jaguar Land Rover, delivering its charitable partnerships, and c.e.o. of EIL UK, a youth education charity which is part of a federation afforded UN Peace Messenger status.

BTBS said she brings particular experience of making charities and partnerships relevant for the modern age and has leadership and income generation experience across a diverse range of organisations, including academic publisher the Egypt Exploration Society and the British Red Cross.

She said: “I am delighted to be joining BTBS and excited about the opportunity to work with the team and trustees to help shape its future. This is a once in a generation chance, in the wake of the global health emergency, to support underrepresented people to enter the industry and to help our Book Trade communities and individuals through the pandemic and beyond.”

Perry joins following a successful final year in the role for Hicks, under whose leadership the number of charity grant beneficiaries grew from just nine when he first started in 1994 to 212 in 2020. Last year's figure included 95 grants given via a Covid-19 bookseller hardship fund made possible by a trade fundraising drive.

The housing provision has seen investment of over £5m, with accommodation upgraded and increased from 32 bungalows and flats to 77 units—including the new development in Whetstone primarily aimed at young entrants to the trade, focusing on promoting diversity and inclusivity. This development is nearing completion and the charity will start advertising for new tenants in the next few weeks.

Jonathan Nowell, chair of the charity, said: “On behalf of the president and trustees, I am delighted to welcome Vic to the Book Trade Charity at a time of renewed hope and real need. David will be a hard act to follow, but the trustees have been diligent to ensure we have a successor in Vic who will bring the dynamic growth we need to meet the future needs of the UK book trade. Supported in recent years by an outstanding team, David has done a magnificent job, and the trustees will make sure that we and the trade have the opportunity to recognise his considerable achievements over the coming months.”