Indie Fests Appoint Full-Timer

The UK’s Association Of Independent Festivals has appointed Paul Reed as its first full-time general manager, taking over from Claire O’Neill, who has done the job on a part-time basis.

O’Neill will continue as senior manager, concentrating on developing new projects and AIF’s busy events schedule. In the five years since it was co-founded by BBC Radio 1 DJ and Bestival founder Rob da Bank and his long-time manager and Bestival director Ben Turner, the AIF has increased its membership from 15 to 50 festivals.

Reed has an extensive background in the live industry, both in gig promotion and also working as artist liaison and stage manager at major UK festivals including Evolution and Secret Garden Party.

He also worked for three years at music development agency Generator in a wide-ranging role that included managing its live music programme and editing its industry newsletter, The Gen.

More recently, he was head of operations at classical music centre The Conservatoire before moving this year to the position of operations manager at festival event management company The Event Umbrella.

Apart from overseeing the day-to-day operations of the AIF, his 2014 remit will also include secondary ticketing, marketing, finance, sustainable event management, crime and police resourcing.