Standard Digital Edition

Who’s on the books to be the next boss of Hay Festival?

WHITHER the Hay Festival after the departure of co-founder and boss Peter Florence? The Londoner hears one plan being considered is to split Florence’s roles into a CEO and a creative director.

“Last week’s news was a resolution, now we can all move on,” a Hay insider tells us.

Florence quit after the Hay’s board upheld a complaint about bullying. Florence had been suspended over the matter since October.

“Keeping the show on the road through this uncertainty (not to mention Covid) was a challenge, but support for the festival has been incredible,” the source added.

Interim CEO Tania Hudson, festival chair Caroline Michel and Cristina Fuentes La Roche, the international director, are all thought to have played a key role. Names in the frame to take over include those three as well as trustee Philippe Sands, historian Simon Schama and outgoing GQ boss Dylan Jones. One selfeffacing trustee has ruled themselves out to us: “I’m proud to be a tiny part of it but won’t be in contention to run it.” The hottest job in town.

Comment

en-gb

2021-08-04T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-08-04T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://eveningstandard.pressreader.com/article/281754157370480

Evening Standard Limited