Festival Republic have confirmed that their partnership with the Glastonbury Festival has come to an end, meaning that Melvin Benn, who first worked for the iconic Festival in the 80s and then returned prior to the 2002 Festival which featured the new ‘superfence’ as Licensee, will pass over the reigns as Operations Director in due course. Festival Republic were shareholders in the event. Benn will now focus on Festival Republic’s other festivals including Reading, Leeds, Latitude, Hove, Berlin and Electric Picnic. A statement from Festival Republic said:
“Time moves on and now is the time for Michael and the Glastonbury team to pick up the reins again and build for the future. This will then allow Melvin and the Festival Republic team to focus on growing new Festival Republic events and the existing FR owned festivals here in the UK as well as internationally in Ireland, Germany and Norway as well as the time required of Melvin as Chairman of Wembley Stadium.”
“The separation has been mutual and cordial and Melvin will oversee the change and the selection of the new Operations Director (yet to be appointed). The Festival Republic interest in GFL 2011 (the operational company of Glastonbury Festival) will be passed on to LNG, Festival Republic’s parent company, in a long term arrangement that genuinely secures the future of the Festival. (The Workers Beer Company interest in the same company remains unaffected).”