Paul Reed has announced that he will step down as chief executive officer of the Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) in November.
Since joining in 2013, Paul has acted as the general manager and then CEO of the organisation, which now represents just under half of all 5,000-plus capacity UK festivals. Under his leadership, AIF has executed several campaigns on key issues including sexual violence and environmental impact. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Paul acted as a key government liaison for the festival industry, as AIF successfully lobbied for festivals to be covered by the Cultural Recovery Fund.
Within the organisation, Paul spearheaded AIF’s move from being a division of the Association of Independent Music (AIM) to becoming an autonomous limited company in 2018.
The board are now seeking his successor, with application information available on the AIF website.
Paul Reed says of his departure, ‘Leading the AIF for nine years has been an incredible journey, and I’m proud to be leaving an organisation with a growing membership that has real influence on government and wider industry. AIF has achieved some hugely impactful public campaigns and remains very visible and responsive to the needs of its members.’
‘The organisation rose to the challenge of representing and supporting members throughout the devastating impacts of Covid. With the first full festival season since the pandemic drawing to a close, it feels like the right time for me to seek new challenges, and an opportune time for AIF to appoint new leadership.’
‘I hope to share details of my next steps in the music industry soon but, in the meantime, I would like to thank all the AIF members who have supported us, as well as board members, past and present and the partners and the staff I’ve had the pleasure of working alongside. Despite the challenges independent festivals continue to face, doing this job has been an enormous privilege and hugely enjoyable. The contribution that AIF members make to the UK on an economic and cultural level is undeniable, not to mention the immeasurable impact festivals have on well-being and mental health. The sector will remain close to my heart, and I look forward to seeing AIF and its membership continue to thrive.’
