Tim Waterstone

Early life

Tim Waterstone was born on 30 May 1939 in Glasgow, Scotland. He grew up in Crowborough, East Sussex, England. He was educated at Tonbridge School and St Catharine's College, Cambridge, where he read English.

Career

Waterstone worked for a broking firm in Calcutta, India. Upon his return to England he worked as a marketing manager for Allied Breweries, 1964–73 and then W.H. Smith, 1973–81.

Waterstone founded the bookselling chain Waterstone's in 1982. He became the founder chairman of HMV Media Group in 1998, which merged the businesses of Waterstone's and HMV. He left the group in 2001.

Waterstone chaired the DTI Working Group on Smaller Quoted Companies and Private Investors in 1999. He was an investor in Bookberry, a Moscow booksellers. He became the chairman of Read Petite, an e-book company, in 2013.

Waterstone has published four novels: Lilley & Chase (Hodder 1994), An Imperfect Marriage (Hodder 1995), A Passage of Lives (Hodder 1996) and In For A Penny In For A Pound (Atlantic 2010). He has also published a semi-autobiographical business book, Swimming Against The Stream (Macmillan 2006) and many articles in the arts and business media.

Philanthropy and political activity

Waterstone was a chairman or board member of English International (1987–92), the London Philharmonic Orchestra (1990–97), Portman House Trust (1994–96), the Academy of Ancient Music (1990–95), Virago Press (1993–95), Jazz FM (1991–1993), the London International Festival of Theatre (1990–92), the Elgar Foundation (1992–98), the British Library (1995–97), King's College London Library (2000–02), Yale University Press (1992–2013), Chelsea Stores (1996–2007), FutureStart (1992–2009), Virago Press (1995–1996), Hill Samuel UK Emerging Companies Investment Trust plc (1996–2000) and Downing Classic VCT (1998–2003).

He is the co-founder of Bookaid. He has sat on the Booker Prize Management Committee, and acted as the Chairman of Judges for the Prince's Youth Business Trust Awards. He served as a member of the visiting committee of Cambridge University Library (2007–2013). He chaired Shelter's 25th Anniversary Appeal. He served as Chancellor of Edinburgh Napier University (2007–2015).

Waterstone supports the Labour Party. He was opposed to the Iraq War and took part in demonstrations against it.

Personal life

Waterstone is twice divorced. He is married to the TV and film producer and novelist Rosie Alison. He has eight children. He resides in Holland Park, London.

Waterstone is a member of the Garrick Club.