Sir John Madejski re-appointed as University Chancellor

Wednesday, 22 August 2012

Sir John Madejski, OBE, DL, DLitt outside the Madejski Lecture Theatre, Agriculture Building, Whiteknights

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

Sir John was first installed as the Chancellor 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, 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, commented: "I am delighted to be invited to continue my role as Chancellor. I take great pride in the world-wide impact of the research and the excellence of the teaching being undertaken here, 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.