Philip Marshall has been appointed as the London Library’s new director and will take up the post in mid-September, joining from his current position as director of development at Sadler’s Wells.
His appointment follows the retirement of Inez Lynn, who has enjoyed a 30-year long career at the institution, first as librarian then as librarian and chief executive in 2002. Over the past 15 years Lynn has enhanced the physical collection an overseen the expansion of the collection online and renovation of its working spaces.
Howard Davies, chairman of The London Library, said: “We are delighted at the appointment of Philip Marshall who will help ensure that the library enhances its position as one of the country’s great cultural institutions and centres for learning. We are indebted to Inez Lynn whose leadership and expertise has transformed the library’s operations while offering an unparalleled and much-loved library service.”
Located in St James’ Square, The London Library is “dedicated to the advancement of education, learning and knowledge” and was founded in 1841 by radical Scottish philosopher Thomas Carlyle. Historical luminaries on its membership archives include Charles Dickens, George Eliot and EM Forster, Virginia Woolf, TS Eliot and Bram Stoker.
Marshall has held senior commercial and business development roles in a number of high profile UK cultural organisations, including the British Museum, Sadler’s Wells and the Royal Albert Hall.
First a solicitor, he completed an MBA at London Business School, then moved into the cultural sector, joining the British Museum in 2003, where he was head of commercial and director of international engagement, leading the creation of its international programme of touring exhibitions and consultancy work, as well as overseeing substantial growth in the museum’s membership programme and venue hire business.
He left the museum to become director of business development at the Royal Albert Hall, where he was
responsible for increasing income from both commercial and philanthropic sources, the RAH catering and retail operations and commercial partnerships, as well as leading development fundraising for the Hall’s £35m basement extension project.
The London Library is the world’s largest independent lending library with over one million books on its shelves and periodicals covering 2,000 subjects. A charitable trust, it relies on membership subscription and philanthropic donations to thrive.