Albert Read (executive)
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Albert Read
| image = File:Albert_Read_by_Mike_Trow_in_office.jpg
| image_size = 200px
| caption =
| birth_place =
| nationality = British
| citizenship =
| education = University of Oxford
INSEAD
| alma_mater =
| boards =
| occupation = Executive Chairman of The Evening Standard
}}
Albert Read is the Executive Chairman of The Evening Standard [https://pressgazette.co.uk/the-wire/media-jobs-uk-news/evening-standard-albert-read-executive-chairman/] and former managing director of Condé Nast Britain, overseeing titles and businesses including British Vogue, GQ, Vanity Fair, GQ Style, Tatler, Condé Nast Traveller, Glamour, Wired UK, Love, House & Garden and World of Interiors.
Read was previously a journalist, before moving into a business role at Conde Nast. From 2006 onwards Read played a pivotal role in managing Conde Nast's business interests in the UK and internationally.
Albert Read is also the author of The Imagination Muscle, published by Little Brown in the UK and Union Square in the US. The book was described as 'super sharp...an extraordinary book' by the Spectator [https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/how-to-be-top-two-new-books-promise-the-self-improvement-holy-grail] 'a beautifully written meditation' by the Economist [https://www.economist.com/the-economist-reads/2023/07/12/what-to-read-to-become-more-creative]. It was named as one of Bloomberg's best books of 2023 [https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2023-best-books/?embedded-checkout=true] and was nominated on JP Morgan's Next List 2025 [https://www.jpmorgan.com/insights/wealth-planning/family-wealth-planning/jp-morgan-nextlist].
Early life and education
Read was born in London. He was educated at Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School, Ampleforth College and New College, Oxford, where he read classics. He received an MBA from INSEAD in 2000.{{cite web |title=Albert Read bio |url=https://www.ppa.co.uk/people/albert-read |publisher=Professional Publishers Association}}
Career
Read began his career as a journalist, writing and editing for The Spectator, The Daily Mail, The Daily Express and The Daily Telegraph, before moving to Conde Nast.{{cite web |last1=Conlon |first1=Scarlett |title=Nicholas Coleridge's Condé Nast Successors Named |url=https://www.vogue.co.uk/article/albert-read-wolfgang-blau-to-succeed-nicholas-coleridge-conde-nast-managing-director-president |magazine=Vogue |date=January 16, 2017}} It was stated in interviews that Read wanted to transition from journalist to the business side of publishing and began that transition once he had joined Condé Nast International.
In this role he developed the distribution of Condé Nast titles to the Asian market, including the launch of Vogue China and Vogue India.{{cite web |title=In Vogue in China |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/people/in-vogue-in-china-1.449353 |publisher=Irish Times |date=January 21, 2012}}{{cite web |last1=Brook |first1=Stephen |title=Vogue thinks big for Indian launch |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2007/sep/20/pressandpublishing.fashion |newspaper=The Guardian |date=September 20, 2007}} During the same period, he was listed on the Evening Standard's 2007 list of London's 100 Most Influential People.{{cite web |title=London's Most Influential People List 2007 |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/new-media-6641377.html |publisher=Evening Standard}}
In 2009 Read became publishing director of Wired UK.{{cite web |last1=Barber |first1=Lynsey |title=Albert Read promoted to deputy managing director at Condé Nast |url=https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/albert-read-promoted-deputy-managing-director-conde-nast/1111660 |publisher=Campaign |date=January 11, 2012}} After holding a number of business roles at Condé Nast he was promoted to deputy managing director of Condé Nast Britain in early 2012.{{cite web |last1=Barber |first1=Lynsey |title=Albert Read promoted to deputy managing director at Condé Nast |url=https://www.campaignlive.com/article/albert-read-promoted-deputy-managing-director-conde-nast/1111660 |publisher=Campaign |date=January 11, 2012}}
In January 2017 it was announced that Read would be replacing Nicholas Coleridge as the managing director of Conde Nast Britain.{{cite web |last1=Greenslade |first1=Roy |title=New executives step up at Condé Nast as Nicholas Coleridge retires |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/greenslade/2017/jan/16/new-executives-step-up-at-conde-nast-as-nicholas-coleridge-retires |newspaper=The Guardian |date=January 16, 2017}}{{cite web |last1=Carter |first1=Meg |title=All change at Condé |url=https://www.inpublishing.co.uk/articles/all-change-at-conde-552 |publisher=InPublishing |date=September 26, 2017}} The role meant Read would be responsible for the publication of many well-known British publications, including British Vogue, Vanity Fair, Tatler, Condé Nast Traveller, Glamour, GQ, and others.{{cite web |title=Albert Read announced as managing director of Condé Nast Britain |url=https://www.fipp.com/news/industrynews/albert-read-md-cnbritain |publisher=FIPP |date=January 16, 2017}}
In 2018 it was announced that Condé Nast Traveller's editorial teams internationally and in the United States would be merged. The newly formed editorial team would be based in London under Read's guidance.{{cite web |title=Condé Nast to merge US and international teams producing Traveller |url=https://www.ft.com/content/5cd5504a-a099-11e8-85da-eeb7a9ce36e4 |newspaper=Financial Times}} In July 2019 Read also appeared on BBC Business Live speaking about the market conditions of the magazine industry,{{cite news |title=The Inside Track on Magazines |publisher=BBC News |date=July 23, 2019}} and also spoke to The New York Times in late 2019 about The World of Interiors.{{cite web |last1=Kurutz |first1=Steven |title=Inside The World of Interiors, Condé Nast's Secret Weapon |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/04/style/world-of-interiors.html |work=The New York Times}}
During the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Read made the decision to unlock the May issues of certain publications, providing readers with free-digital access.{{cite web |last1=Conti |first1=Samantha |title=Condé Nast Britain Unlocks May Issues, Offers Free Digital Access |url=https://wwd.com/business-news/media/conde-nast-britain-unlocks-may-issues-offers-free-digital-access-1203550202/ |work=Women's Wear Daily |date=March 30, 2020}} He was also interviewed regularly about the health of Condé Nast's publications and the wider publishing industry during the pandemic.{{cite web |title=Covid chaos could ravage the British Media landscape |url=https://www.bmmagazine.co.uk/in-business/covid-chaos-could-ravage-the-british-media-landscape/ |publisher=Business Matters |date=April 12, 2020}}{{cite web |last1=Cartner-Morley |first1=Jess |title=New trends: fashion covers reflect the era of coronavirus |url=https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2020/apr/27/new-trends-fashion-covers-reflect-the-era-of-coronavirus |work=The Guardian}}{{cite web |last1=Arlidge |first1=John |title=Covid chaos spells bad news for the media |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/covid-chaos-spells-bad-news-for-the-media-p9xdgz73b |work=Sunday Times}}
Other roles
Read was a director of Ian Fleming Publications,{{citation needed|date=August 2021}} best known for their involvement in the James Bond franchise. He is a board member of the Independent Press Standards Organisation's regulatory funding committee.{{citation needed|date=August 2021}}
Personal life and family
Read is the son of the novelist and historian Piers Paul Read and is the grandson of Sir Herbert Read, poet, art critic and founder of the Institute of Contemporary Arts.{{cite web |last1=Wroe |first1=Nicholas |title=A Life in Books: Piers Paul Read |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2010/jul/03/piers-paul-read-misogynist-interview |newspaper=The Guardian |date=July 3, 2010}}
He lives in London with his wife, author and editor, Catherine Ostler, and their children.{{cite web |title=Interview with Tatler's new editor, Catherine Ostler |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2009/mar/16/interview-tatlers-editor-catherine-ostler |newspaper=The Guardian |date=March 16, 2009}}
References
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Category:British male journalists
Category:British media executives
Category:People educated at Ampleforth College
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)