John Madejski is one of the names most closely associated with modern Reading. The businessman built his reputation through the classified advertising venture that evolved into Auto Trader, but his influence extended far beyond publishing. He became the long-serving chairman of Reading Football Club, helped deliver the stadium that carried his name for more than two decades, supported cultural institutions and education, and served as Chancellor of the University of Reading.
For many readers, Madejski is remembered either for Auto Trader or as the chairman who took Reading FC into the Premier League. His wider record connects business success with football, philanthropy and civic involvement.
Quick Bio
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Sir John Robert Madejski |
| Known As | John Madejski |
| Profession | Businessman, entrepreneur and philanthropist |
| Nationality | British |
| Born | 28 April 1941 |
| Birthplace | Stoke-on-Trent, England |
| Known For | Founding the business that developed into Auto Trader |
| Football Connection | Former chairman and owner of Reading F.C. |
| Reading F.C. Chairman | 1990–2012 |
| Major Football Achievement | Oversaw Reading’s first promotion to the Premier League in 2006 |
| University Role | Former Chancellor of the University of Reading |
| Philanthropy | Supported education, arts, museums and community projects |
| Honour | Knighted in 2009 for charitable services |
| Notable Legacy | The former Madejski Stadium and the Sir John Madejski Stand at Reading F.C. |
The Business Idea That Became Auto Trader
Madejski’s defining commercial breakthrough began with a classified-advertising concept. In 1977 he launched Thames Valley Trader, a regional publication built around advertisements for cars and other goods. Auto Trader’s corporate history says the idea followed a visit to the United States, where he had seen a similar publishing model.
What started as a local magazine developed into something much larger. Guardian Media Group became involved in 1983, and the group’s regional motoring titles eventually adopted the Auto Trader name in 1988. By the mid-1990s, the publication had national coverage across the UK and had expanded into Ireland.
The story can be easy to underestimate today because Auto Trader is now associated with digital car searches. Yet the publication emerged before the internet transformed vehicle buying, organising a fragmented marketplace for sellers, dealers and buyers.
Auto Trader later moved online and eventually ended its print magazine in 2013. That digital evolution happened long after Madejski’s original launch, but it demonstrates the scale of the brand created from his early entrepreneurial idea.
Why Reading Became Central to His Public Identity
Madejski’s business success could have left him known mainly as a publishing entrepreneur. Instead, his connection with Reading became the dominant theme of his public life.
He took control of Reading Football Club during a financial crisis in 1990. The club’s historical account describes that period as a turning point: Madejski’s arrival was followed by the move from Elm Park to a new stadium in 1998 and by what became the most successful extended period in the club’s history.
Elm Park had been Reading’s home for more than a century. The move to the Madejski Stadium gave the club a modern all-seater home and symbolised a shift in expectations. It opened in August 1998 and became a visible example of his investment.
From the Lower Leagues to the Premier League
The most celebrated sporting achievement of the Madejski era came in 2005–06. Reading won the Championship with a record 106 points and reached the top flight for the first time in the club’s history. The University of Reading’s official biography highlights that promotion as one of the central achievements of his chairmanship.
Reading’s progress was not a single-season story. The club established itself in the Premier League after promotion, while another Championship title in 2012 brought a second promotion.
By then, Madejski had begun reducing his ownership. In 2012, a controlling stake was sold to Thames Sports Investment, led by Anton Zingarevich. The arrangement later became complicated, and Madejski again played a stabilising role before a Thai consortium completed a takeover in 2014.
The Supporters’ Trust at Reading records him as chairman from 1990 to 2012 and co-chairman from 2012 to 2017, crediting him with transforming the club and building its new stadium.
The Stadium Name Changed, but the Association Remains
For more than two decades, Reading’s home was known as the Madejski Stadium. That changed in 2021 when a naming-rights agreement rebranded it as the Select Car Leasing Stadium.
The change did not remove his name from the ground entirely. As part of the agreement, the East Stand was renamed the Sir John Madejski Stand to recognise his influence on Reading FC. Companies House records also show the club’s registered address changing from Madejski Stadium to Select Car Leasing Stadium in 2021.
He is no longer the controlling owner who defines major financial decisions, but the club’s modern stadium, Premier League history and period of upward mobility remain closely tied to his stewardship.
Philanthropy Beyond Football
Madejski’s public legacy also rests on charitable and cultural giving. The Victoria and Albert Museum’s John Madejski Garden is one of the most prominent examples.
The V&A says the modern courtyard garden, designed by landscape architect Kim Wilkie, was named in Madejski’s honour because he funded the project. Today it remains a central public space within the museum’s South Kensington site.
He has also supported the Royal Academy of Arts and Reading Museum. In Reading, the Sir John Madejski Art Gallery continues to carry his name, keeping his connection to the town visible outside football.
Education became another major area of involvement. Madejski supported the John Madejski Centre for Reputation at Henley Business School and developed a long relationship with the University of Reading. He became Chancellor in 2007 and was succeeded in 2016, after which he continued as Chancellor Emeritus.
The Academy Renaming and a New Debate About His Legacy
One of the most notable recent developments involves the school that once bore his name. John Madejski Academy joined the Greenshaw Learning Trust in January 2025 and was renamed Hartland High School from September 2025 after a consultation involving the school community. The trust described the change as part of a wider effort to give the school a fresh identity during an improvement programme.
The decision prompted criticism from Reading Borough Council, which had previously recognised Madejski’s contribution to the town. In 2026, council discussions moved towards a proposal to name all or part of the A33 relief road “Sir John Madejski Way.” Council minutes show consultation with businesses and relevant ward councillors was planned, with a further report expected after that process.
The episode shows how deeply his name has become embedded in Reading’s civic story. Even when institutions change names, debate turns to how his contribution should be remembered elsewhere.
Honours and Recognition
Madejski has received several formal honours connected with his charitable and civic work. He was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of Berkshire in 2000, received an OBE, and was later knighted in the 2009 New Year Honours for charitable services. Reading Borough Council also made him a Freeman of the Borough in recognition of his contribution to the area.
These honours reflect a public role spanning business, sport, education, museums and civic life.
What Is John Madejski’s Net Worth?
Madejski has long been described as a wealthy businessman, and the success of the publishing interests connected with Auto Trader provided the foundation for his fortune. However, an exact current net worth should be treated cautiously.
There is no single authoritative public figure that can be treated as a definitive current total, so precise estimates from celebrity-wealth websites should not be presented as confirmed fact.
What can be stated confidently is that his business success enabled major investment in Reading FC and significant philanthropic support for cultural and educational institutions.
Conclusion
John Madejski’s career links one of Britain’s best-known automotive marketplace brands with one of the most important periods in Reading Football Club’s history. His publishing venture helped create the business success that later supported investments in football, education, museums and civic projects.
The Auto Trader story established his reputation as an entrepreneur, but Reading became the place where that success acquired a broader meaning. A modern stadium, Premier League football, cultural institutions and educational projects all became part of his public legacy. Even as names on buildings and institutions change, the continuing debate over how Reading should recognise him shows that his influence remains difficult to separate from the town’s modern history.
FAQs.
What is John Madejski best known for?
John Madejski is best known for launching Thames Valley Trader, the regional classified publication that developed into Auto Trader, and for his long association with Reading Football Club. He took control of Reading FC in 1990, helped finance its move to a modern stadium and oversaw the club’s first promotion to the Premier League.
Did John Madejski found Auto Trader?
He launched Thames Valley Trader in 1977, which became the foundation of the business that developed into Auto Trader. The brand expanded through regional publications before adopting the Auto Trader name in 1988.
Does Reading FC’s stadium still carry his name?
The stadium has been called the Select Car Leasing Stadium since 2021 under a naming-rights agreement. However, the East Stand was renamed the Sir John Madejski Stand, preserving his formal connection with the ground.
What happened to John Madejski Academy?
The school joined the Greenshaw Learning Trust in January 2025 and became Hartland High School from September 2025 following a consultation and community vote.
Was John Madejski knighted?
Yes. He was knighted in the 2009 New Year Honours for charitable services. He had previously received an OBE and served as a Deputy Lieutenant of Berkshire.
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