Sir Nicholas Coleridge CBE DL has been announced as the next Eton College Provost, to succeed Lord Waldegrave of North Hill, the school has announced.
Sir Nicholas will take up the post and be resident at Eton from September 2024 and will be the 43rd Provost since Eton was established.
The provost at Eton College is the chairman of the governing body and is appointed by the Crown.
Sir Nicholas began his career as a journalist and has had a high-profile career in the media and publishing. He was for 30 years successively editorial director, managing director, president and chair of Condé Nast International, the magazine company.
He is currently chair of the Victoria and Albert Museum and is set to chair the Historic Royal Palaces at the end of that appointment.
Sir Nicholas has also been chair of the British Fashion Council and chair of the Professional Publishers Association. He also co-chaired last year’s Platinum Jubilee Pageant for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth.
His appointment comes amid exciting times for Eton as it launches its “Eton Star” academies programme in the north of England which was given government approval in August under free schools legislation.
Sir Nicholas is replacing Lord Waldegrave, who has been provost since 2009.
In recent years, Eton College has found itself in the headlines due to tensions between its reforming head master Simon Henderson and the more traditionalist members of the Eton fraternity.
The appointment of a new provost has been described in The Times newspaper as “the battle for Eton’s soul”.
Lord Waldegrave of North Hill said: “I am delighted that Nicholas Coleridge will be joining the Fellowship in the autumn and succeeding me in a year’s time. In his career in business, at the V&A and beyond he has shown himself to be an outstanding leader of creative people.
“Eton will be fortunate to have the benefit of his energy and commitment as we develop our ambitious strategy for the school and its partnerships in the maintained sector.’
Sir Nicholas Coleridge, said: ‘I am honoured and delighted to be appointed Provost, and to be joining Eton at such an exciting time in its development. In William Waldegrave I am deeply aware I shall be following someone whose wisdom and good judgement has sustained the institution over his time in office and whose legacy is considerable. Looking to the future, both my wife, Georgia, and I are keenly anticipating meeting and working with the boys, Fellows, staff, parents, alumni and the entirety of the community that defines this exceptional school”.
Head master Simon Henderson, said ‘I am greatly looking forward to working closely with Nicholas when he becomes Provost. He will bring to Eton a wide range of experience in both the commercial and charitable sectors and a fresh perspective to the work we do.’