Bradford Literature Festival (BLF) is delighted to announce the appointment of John Makinson as the new Chair of the Board, effective from 1 October 2024.
Makinson, a highly respected figure in the global publishing and creative industries, brings a wealth of leadership experience to guide the festival into its next decade of growth and innovation. Makinson succeeds Sir Richard Lambert as chair.
Leathwaite facilitated the appointment, using their expertise to secure a candidate who aligns perfectly with the festival’s vision and future ambitions.
Reflecting on his appointment, John Makinson said: “In the space of ten years Bradford Literature Festival has grown from being the dream of its founder to one of the biggest and brightest, as well as the most diverse and distinctive, literary conversations in Europe. I’m thrilled to be joining as its new Chair just as we usher in the second decade. It promises to be even more exciting than the first.”
Makinson’s distinguished career includes serving as Chairman and CEO of Penguin, the global book publisher, 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 organization, and has previously served as Chairman of the National Theatre from 2010 to 2016 and Managing Director of the Financial Times.
2024 was a key milestone and a tremendous success for Bradford Literature Festival, as the festival celebrated its 10th anniversary with a record-breaking audience of 155,934 from 24 countries.
Highlights from the 2024 festival included events from Lemn Sissay, Miriam Margolyes and Shaykh Hamza Yusuf, the Palestinian Ambassador Husam Zomlot, two-time Grammy winner Corinne Bailey Rae, comedians Shaparak Khorsandi and Ruby Wax, historian Mary Beard, and vicar and journalist Kate Bottley.
Syima Aslam, CEO and Artistic Director of the Bradford Literature Festival, shared her excitement about working with Makinson: “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 further grow our national and global presence and partners, to make an even greater contribution over the next ten years. We remain committed to ensuring that literature and the arts are accessible to all, creating a space where diverse voices can thrive.”
As Bradford Literature Festival continues to evolve, Makinson’s appointment signals a renewed commitment to fostering creativity, inclusion, and social impact. Under his leadership, BLF is poised to strengthen its position as a key cultural event in the UK and ‘Europe’s Most Diverse & Inclusive Arts Festival’, driving meaningful conversations that inspire and unite audiences from all backgrounds.
Meet Bradford Literature Festival’s full Management Board and Advisory Council here: Meet the Board.