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20
Apr 2021
Harrogate International Festivals appoints successor to Dame Fanny
Harrogate International Festivals has named Peter Blackburn, the former chairman and chief executive of Nestle UK, as its new honorary president.
Mr Blackburn joined the charity as a trustee in 2003 and went on to serve as chairman for a decade.
He will take on the title of honorary president following the death of Dame Fanny Waterman in December.
The charity is known for hosting big names and events but in the past year many of these have had to be moved online.
The charity is celebrating its 55th birthday this year and hopes soon to be holding big live events again, such as the Theakston Old Peculiar Crime Writing Festival.
Mr Blackburn said:
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Born and raised in Yorkshire, Mr Blackburn has held a number of high ranking posts in various food companies.
After qualifying as a chartered accountant in Bradford, his career was in the food industry, starting at Mackintosh’s, which merged with Rowntrees in 1969, becoming a director in 1982.
After the acquisition of Rowntree by Nestlé in June 1988, he became chairman and chief executive of Nestlé UK and for a period president-directeur général of Nestlé France.
He retired in 2001 and has since been president of both the Food and Drink Federation and the Incorporated Society of British Advertisers.
Harrogate International Festivals chair, Fiona Movley, said:
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