Tim Waterstone
Encyclopedia
Tim Waterstone is the founder of the United Kingdom bookselling retail chain Waterstone's
. Waterstone's now employs 4,500 staff, is the largest specialist bookseller in Europe, with stores in the UK, Holland, Belgium and Ireland, and is the third largest bookseller in the world.
and St Catharine's College, Cambridge
, where he read English. He then went to India where he worked for a broking firm in Calcutta
. Upon his return to England he worked as a marketing manager for Allied Breweries
, 1964–73 and then W.H. Smith, 1973–81. He founded the bookselling chain Waterstone's in 1982, and became the founder chairman of HMV Media Group in 1998, which merged the businesses of Waterstone's and HMV. He left the group in 2001.
Meanwhile, he was a chairman or board member of English International (1987–92), the London Philharmonic Orchestra
(1990–97), Portman House Trust (1994–96), the Academy of Ancient Music
(1990–95), the London International Festival of Theatre (1990–92), the Elgar Foundation (1992–98), the British Library (1995-97), the Library, King's College, London (2000–02), Yale University Press
(1992 – present), Chelsea Stores (1996–2007), FutureStart (1992–2009), Virago Press
(1995–1996), Hill Samuel
UK Emerging Companies Investment Trust plc (1996–2000) and Downing Classic VCT (1998–2003).
He is the co-founder of Bookaid, has sat on the Booker Prize Management Committee, and acted as the Chairman Of Judges for the Prince’s Youth Business Trust Awards. He is a member of the visiting committee of Cambridge University Library (2007 – present). He chaired Shelter
's 25th Anniversary Appeal, and in 1999 chaired the DTI Working Group on Smaller Quoted Companies and Private Investors. He is the chancellor of Edinburgh Napier University (2007 – present). He was a Labour party
donor in the 1997 and 2001 general election campaigns, and was one of the signatories of the letter from 67 business leaders to the Financial Times in 1997 calling for a Labour party election victory.
Waterstone's
Waterstone's is a British book specialist established in 1982 by Tim Waterstone that employs around 4,500 staff throughout the United Kingdom and Europe....
. Waterstone's now employs 4,500 staff, is the largest specialist bookseller in Europe, with stores in the UK, Holland, Belgium and Ireland, and is the third largest bookseller in the world.
Early life and career
Tim Waterstone was educated at Tonbridge SchoolTonbridge School
Tonbridge School is a British boys' independent school for both boarding and day pupils in Tonbridge, Kent, founded in 1553 by Sir Andrew Judd . It is a member of the Eton Group, and has close links with the Worshipful Company of Skinners, one of the oldest London livery companies...
and St Catharine's College, Cambridge
St Catharine's College, Cambridge
St. Catharine’s College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Founded in 1473, the college is often referred to informally by the nickname "Catz".-History:...
, where he read English. He then went to India where he worked for a broking firm in Calcutta
Kolkata
Kolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...
. Upon his return to England he worked as a marketing manager for Allied Breweries
Allied Breweries
Allied Breweries was the result of a 1961 merger between Ind Coope , Ansells , and Tetley Walker .- Ansells :...
, 1964–73 and then W.H. Smith, 1973–81. He founded the bookselling chain Waterstone's in 1982, and became the founder chairman of HMV Media Group in 1998, which merged the businesses of Waterstone's and HMV. He left the group in 2001.
Meanwhile, he was a chairman or board member of English International (1987–92), the London Philharmonic Orchestra
London Philharmonic Orchestra
The London Philharmonic Orchestra , based in London, is one of the major orchestras of the United Kingdom, and is based in the Royal Festival Hall. In addition, the LPO is the main resident orchestra of the Glyndebourne Festival Opera...
(1990–97), Portman House Trust (1994–96), the Academy of Ancient Music
Academy of Ancient Music
The Academy of Ancient Music is a period-instrument orchestra based in Cambridge, England. Founded by harpsichordist Christopher Hogwood in 1973, it was named after a previous organisation of the same name of the 18th century. The musicians play on either original instruments or modern copies of...
(1990–95), the London International Festival of Theatre (1990–92), the Elgar Foundation (1992–98), the British Library (1995-97), the Library, King's College, London (2000–02), Yale University Press
Yale University Press
Yale University Press is a book publisher founded in 1908 by George Parmly Day. It became an official department of Yale University in 1961, but remains financially and operationally autonomous....
(1992 – present), Chelsea Stores (1996–2007), FutureStart (1992–2009), Virago Press
Virago Press
Virago is a British publishing company founded in 1973 by Carmen Callil to publish books by women writers. Both new works and reissued books by neglected authors have featured on the imprint's list....
(1995–1996), Hill Samuel
Hill Samuel
Hill Samuel is a wholly owned subsidiary of Lloyds TSB's Offshore Private Banking unit. It was formerly a leading British merchant bank and financial services firm before the takeover by TSB Group Plc. in 1987, which itself merged with Lloyds Bank to become Lloyds TSB in 1995.-History:In 1832,...
UK Emerging Companies Investment Trust plc (1996–2000) and Downing Classic VCT (1998–2003).
He is the co-founder of Bookaid, has sat on the Booker Prize Management Committee, and acted as the Chairman Of Judges for the Prince’s Youth Business Trust Awards. He is a member of the visiting committee of Cambridge University Library (2007 – present). He chaired Shelter
Shelter (charity)
Shelter is a registered charity in England and Scotland that campaigns to end homelessness and bad housing. It gives advice, information and advocacy to people in need, and tackles the root causes of bad housing by lobbying government and local authorities for new laws and policies to improve the...
's 25th Anniversary Appeal, and in 1999 chaired the DTI Working Group on Smaller Quoted Companies and Private Investors. He is the chancellor of Edinburgh Napier University (2007 – present). He was a Labour party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
donor in the 1997 and 2001 general election campaigns, and was one of the signatories of the letter from 67 business leaders to the Financial Times in 1997 calling for a Labour party election victory.