Chair Announcement
Howard Davies to be Chair of Judges for the Man Booker Prize 2007
“I am thrilled to have been asked to chair the Man Booker judges. Next to playing cricket for England – and the selectors have again ignored me – it is my highest ambition.” Howard Davies
Howard Davies is today (Friday 17th November 2006) announced as the Chair of Judges for the Man Booker Prize for Fiction 2007.
For nearly four decades the Man Booker Prize has been seen as the pinnacle of achievement in literary fiction. The award has, traditionally, inspired fierce debate and controversy. It is widely recognised as one of the world’s most significant and prestigious literary prizes.
Sir Howard Davies is Director of the London School of Economics and Political Science. Prior to his current appointment he was Chairman of the Financial Services Authority, the UK’s single financial regulator since 1998. He had previously served for two years as Deputy Governor of the Bank of England, after three years as Director General of the Confederation of British Industry. During 1985-1986 Davies was seconded to the Treasury as Special Adviser to the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Since 2002 he has been a Trustee of the Tate.
In addition to his high profile business activities, Howard Davies is also an avid reader. He was a regular fiction reviewer for The Literary Review for many years, and has also reviewed fiction for Books and Bookmen and The Times. He reads novels in English and French and is a member of the Powys and Wyndham Lewis Societies. Davies is a member of the governing body, Royal Academy of Music; Patron of Working Families; and in 2004 was elected to an Honorary Fellowship at Merton College.
For further information and press enquiries please contact Eleanor Johnsey or Mark Hutchinson at Colman Getty Tel: 020 7631 2666
Email: eleanor@colmangetty.co.uk or mark@colmangetty.co.uk
